Alex Salmond - court case concluded

[Canuk]

Now all the reporting restrictions have been lifted on this case, its been reported that Former First minister Alex Salmond has been charged with one count of breach of the peace, two of indecent assault, nine of sexual assault, as well as two of attempted rape.

AFAIK no previous leader of a parliament in the UK has been charged with crimes of such severity. I must say I'm surprised by the volume, but there are good reports of other cases ongoing with which he may be charged with later.

[Bonefishblues]

I feel very sorry for him.




...said nobody, ever, afaik.

[Cours]

Just watched his ' defence' outside the Court. Even if convicted of only one of the more serious offences the tariff is up to 10 years behind bars.

[gbnz]

Worth bearing in mind that he hasn't done anything yet. We could all be accused of the same tomorrow, we're equally guilty at present

[Mick F]

.......................... we're equally guilty at present

We're all equally innocent at present.

[ambodach]

Funny that this should appear some years after the alleged events and at a time when the SNP is on a roll and independence seems a very real possibility.

[Paulatic]

+1

[landsurfer]

++1 ... It's almost as if "someone" is keeping past misdemeanours in a bag waiting to pounce at the right time .....

[Canuk]

++1 ... It's almost as if "someone" is keeping past misdemeanours in a bag waiting to pounce at the right time .....

I think that's a bit fanciful tbh. Nicola has spent the past year putting deep water between herself and Salmond. It's even went as far as 'we don't talk anymore'.

By all accounts Salmond has had this coming a long time. His fondness for gambling and young ladies is well documented and rumours have been going around Holyrood for a decade or more of his bad boy antics.

I don't know of any former or present serving First/Prime Minister of Parliament who has been charged with such serious offences. The Procurator Fiscal (equiv. CPS) would be very unlikely to draw to such a list of serious charges were there not sufficient evidence existing to get a reasonable chance at a. conviction

I had lunch and spent the afternoon with him some years back at an aerospace beano organised by the SNP at Prestwick Airport. All expenses paid. Around the time they were trying so sell several Scottish locations as sites for the Spaceport. A charming fellow to be sure, but not my cup of tea as a business promoter.

[Tinnishill]

This is an active criminal case. Reporting restrictions are stronger in Scots Law than they are in England. Take a bit of care until after the final verdict.

[Canuk]

Reporting restrictions about the nature and context of the charges against Salmond were in place until the Court released that information to the press. Now that its in the public domain its free to comment on. I have not gone beyond what has been reported on the Scottish press in recent years. Doubtless the Internet will be awash with really controversial conspiracy stories by tomorrow.

[Bonefishblues]

++1 ... It's almost as if "someone" is keeping past misdemeanours in a bag waiting to pounce at the right time .....

I think that's a bit fanciful tbh. Nicola has spent the past year putting deep water between herself and Salmond. It's even went as far as 'we don't talk anymore'.

By all accounts Salmond has had this coming a long time. His fondness for gambling and young ladies is well documented and rumours have been going around Holyrood for a decade or more of his bad boy antics.

I don't know of any former or present serving leading Minister of Parliament who has been charged with such serious offences. The Procurator Fiscal (equiv. CPS) would be very unlikely to draw to such a list of serious charges were there not sufficient evidence existing to get a reasonable chance at a. conviction

I had lunch and spent the afternoon with him some years back at an aerospace beano organised by the SNP at Prestwick Airport. All expenses paid. Around the time they were trying so sell several Scottish locations as sites for the Spaceport. A charming fellow to be sure, but not my cup of tea as a business promoter.

More than that, unless there is demonstrably a reasonable propect* of securing a conviction, they are expressly prohibited from bringing the charges fo criminal trial.

*Forgive me, I can't remember the precise form of words, and dinner's arriving!

[Sweep]

Funny that this should appear some years after the alleged events and at a time when the SNP is on a roll and independence seems a very real possibility.

You are suggesting an english conspiracy?

[Paulatic]

Funny that this should appear some years after the alleged events and at a time when the SNP is on a roll and independence seems a very real possibility.

You are suggesting an english conspiracy?

Think more of Tory/Unionist party. I hope they don’t speak for all of the English.

[Canuk]

Funny that this should appear some years after the alleged events and at a time when the SNP is on a roll and independence seems a very real possibility.

You are suggesting an english conspiracy?

Think more of Tory/Unionist party. I hope they don’t speak for all of the English.

I wasn't at all concerned by this yesterday. However I did notice one quite odd thing: the Gory headline did sit atop the mast of the Guardian online for nearly 17hrs till it was replaced by the Venezuelan crisis about 7am. This is very unusual and made me think twice last night, especially given the skullduggery that took place in Scotland at the actual referendum time. The mast headline is normally rotated every 4hrs.

Then there was this massive vote going through the senate to break the shutdown and a Venezuelan coup/meltdown with possible Russian interference going on simultaneously, but somehow Salmond (surely a minor ex political figure in the scheme of things) gets top billing for nearly an entire day?

Just saying.