Her Majesty's Advocate v Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond was the 2020 criminal prosecution of Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland. Salmond faced 14 charges, mostly of sexual assault. The trial began on 9 March 2020 at the High Court in Edinburgh and concluded on 23 March 2020 with the jury acquitting him of all charges.
In August 2018, Salmond resigned from the SNP in the face of allegations of sexual misconduct in 2013 while he was First Minister. In a statement, he said that he wanted to avoid internal division within the party and intended to apply to rejoin the SNP once he had an opportunity to clear his name.[1][2]
The Scottish Government investigated the allegations. On 30 August 2018, Salmond launched a crowdfunding appeal to pay for the legal costs of seeking a judicial review into the fairness of the process by which the Scottish Government handled the allegations.[3] Salmond closed the appeal two days later, 1 September, after raising £100,000, double the amount he wanted to pay for his legal costs.[4]
The government later conceded that its procedures had been flawed, were "unfair" and "tainted by apparent bias",[5] and paid more than £500,000 in Salmond's legal expenses.[6] On 8 January 2019, he won his inquiry case against Scottish government. The Scottish government admitted it had breached its own guidelines by appointing an investigating officer who had "prior involvement" in the case. Salmond also asked permanent secretary to the Scottish Government, Leslie Evans, to consider her position. Evans stated that the complaints the government had received in January 2018 had not been withdrawn, so the option of re-investigating them remained on the table, once the police probe into the allegations had run its course.[7]
On 24 January 2019, Police Scotland arrested Salmond, and he was charged with 14 offences, including two counts of attempted rape, nine of sexual assault, two of indecent assault, and one of breach of the peace.[8][9] In a statement outside Edinburgh Sheriff Court, he denied any criminality.[8] He appeared in court on 21 November 2019 and entered a plea of "not guilty".[6]
The first witness was "Woman H", who gave an account of how Salmond allegedly tried to rape her in Bute House after a private dinner in June 2014.[11][12] She had not mentioned this incident when she first talked to police in 2018. The defence suggested that she fabricated the allegations, which the witness rejected.[11] A second witness present at the dinner in question gave evidence stating that "Woman H" was not even present at Bute House on the night in question.
One witness claimed that women were banned from working alone with Salmond within the civil service in Scotland, although no corroborating evidence was presented.[13]
During the trial, the defence claimed that the married Mr Salmond, characterised as "touchy-feely", who admitted to sexual contact with two of the complainants, could act inappropriately, and led witnesses who called him "extraordinarily pugnacious" and "extremely demanding".[14]
On 23 March Salmond was found not guilty on 12 charges, not proven on one charge and one was withdrawn by the crown.[15]
Shortly after the trial, a tape emerged apparently showing Gordon Jackson on a crowded train making negative comments and naming two of the alleged victims in the case.[16]
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Her Majesty s Advocate v Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond was the 2020 criminal prosecution of Alex Salmond the former First Minister of Scotland Salmond faced 14 charges mostly of sexual assault The trial began on 9 March 2020 at the High Court in Edinburgh and concluded on 23 March 2020 with the jury acquitting him of all charges HM Advocate v SalmondCourtHigh Court of JusticiaryFull case nameHer Majesty s Advocate v Alexander Elliot Anderson SalmondCourt membershipJudge s sittingThe Lady Dorrian Contents 1 Background 2 Trial 3 See also 4 ReferencesBackground editIn August 2018 Salmond resigned from the SNP in the face of allegations of sexual misconduct in 2013 while he was First Minister In a statement he said that he wanted to avoid internal division within the party and intended to apply to rejoin the SNP once he had an opportunity to clear his name 1 2 The Scottish Government investigated the allegations On 30 August 2018 Salmond launched a crowdfunding appeal to pay for the legal costs of seeking a judicial review into the fairness of the process by which the Scottish Government handled the allegations 3 Salmond closed the appeal two days later 1 September after raising 100 000 double the amount he wanted to pay for his legal costs 4 The government later conceded that its procedures had been flawed were unfair and tainted by apparent bias 5 and paid more than 500 000 in Salmond s legal expenses 6 On 8 January 2019 he won his inquiry case against Scottish government The Scottish government admitted it had breached its own guidelines by appointing an investigating officer who had prior involvement in the case Salmond also asked permanent secretary to the Scottish Government Leslie Evans to consider her position Evans stated that the complaints the government had received in January 2018 had not been withdrawn so the option of re investigating them remained on the table once the police probe into the allegations had run its course 7 On 24 January 2019 Police Scotland arrested Salmond and he was charged with 14 offences including two counts of attempted rape nine of sexual assault two of indecent assault and one of breach of the peace 8 9 In a statement outside Edinburgh Sheriff Court he denied any criminality 8 He appeared in court on 21 November 2019 and entered a plea of not guilty 6 Trial editThe trial started on 9 March 2020 His defence was led by Gordon Jackson with Shelagh McCall as joint senior co counsel the prosecution was led by Alex Prentice 10 The first witness was Woman H who gave an account of how Salmond allegedly tried to rape her in Bute House after a private dinner in June 2014 11 12 She had not mentioned this incident when she first talked to police in 2018 The defence suggested that she fabricated the allegations which the witness rejected 11 A second witness present at the dinner in question gave evidence stating that Woman H was not even present at Bute House on the night in question One witness claimed that women were banned from working alone with Salmond within the civil service in Scotland although no corroborating evidence was presented 13 During the trial the defence claimed that the married Mr Salmond characterised as touchy feely who admitted to sexual contact with two of the complainants could act inappropriately and led witnesses who called him extraordinarily pugnacious and extremely demanding 14 On 23 March Salmond was found not guilty on 12 charges not proven on one charge and one was withdrawn by the crown 15 Shortly after the trial a tape emerged apparently showing Gordon Jackson on a crowded train making negative comments and naming two of the alleged victims in the case 16 See also editTrial by jury in ScotlandReferences edit Ex SNP leader Alex Salmond resigns from party BBC News Online 29 August 2018 Retrieved 29 August 2018 Alex Salmond resigns from SNP after sexual misconduct claims The Guardian 29 August 2018 Retrieved 30 August 2018 Sturgeon s huge sadness as Salmond resigns BBC News Online 30 August 2018 Retrieved 30 August 2018 Salmond crowdfunder closed after passing 100 000 mark BBC News BBC 1 September 2018 Retrieved 1 September 2018 Scottish government admits Salmond investigation was tainted Irish Times Irish Times 8 January 2019 Retrieved 5 July 2023 a b Alex Salmond accused of sexual assaults on 10 women BBC News 21 November 2019 Retrieved 21 November 2019 Alex Salmond wins sexual harassment inquiry case against Scottish government BBC News 8 January 2019 a b Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond arrested BBC News 24 January 2019 Retrieved 24 January 2019 Alex Salmond Former SNP leader arrested and charged Sky News 24 January 2019 Retrieved 24 January 2019 What to expect during the Alex Salmond trial BBC News 9 March 2020 a b Carrell Severin 10 March 2020 Alex Salmond trial witness denies making up attempted rape claim The Guardian Retrieved 11 March 2020 Woman tells court Alex Salmond pounced on her BBC News 9 March 2020 Women banned from working alone with Alex Salmond court hears HeraldScotland Alex Salmond trial What is the political fallout BBC News 24 March 2020 Alex Salmond cleared of all sexual assault charges BBC News 23 March 2020 Retrieved 23 March 2020 The Times 30 March 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HM Advocate v Salmond amp oldid 1173312282, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
