This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51707459
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Alex Salmond trial on sex offence charges begins | Alex Salmond trial on sex offence charges begins |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The trial of Alex Salmond, who denies sexually assaulting 10 women while serving as Scotland's first minister, has started. | The trial of Alex Salmond, who denies sexually assaulting 10 women while serving as Scotland's first minister, has started. |
| The former SNP leader faces a total of 14 charges at the High Court in Edinburgh. | The former SNP leader faces a total of 14 charges at the High Court in Edinburgh. |
| They include allegations of 10 sexual assaults, two indecent assaults, one attempted rape and an assault with intent to rape. | They include allegations of 10 sexual assaults, two indecent assaults, one attempted rape and an assault with intent to rape. |
| Mr Salmond says he is innocent, and has pled not guilty to all of the charges. | Mr Salmond says he is innocent, and has pled not guilty to all of the charges. |
| He has vowed to defend himself vigorously during the trial, and has lodged special defences of consent to four of the charges, and a special defence of alibi to a further charge. | He has vowed to defend himself vigorously during the trial, and has lodged special defences of consent to four of the charges, and a special defence of alibi to a further charge. |
| The first witness in the trial is known as Woman H. Mr Salmond is accused of sexually assaulting her and attempting to rape her. | |
| The trial is being held before judge Lady Dorrian and a jury of 15 members of the public, which was selected on Monday morning. | The trial is being held before judge Lady Dorrian and a jury of 15 members of the public, which was selected on Monday morning. |
| The jury was told by Lady Dorrian that the accused is a "very well known public figure" but they must reach a verdict based on "the evidence and nothing else" and that politics is "irrelevant". | |
| The trial is expected to last about four weeks. | The trial is expected to last about four weeks. |
| It is alleged that the offences were committed at various locations across Scotland, including the Scottish Parliament and the first minister's official Bute House residence in Edinburgh. | It is alleged that the offences were committed at various locations across Scotland, including the Scottish Parliament and the first minister's official Bute House residence in Edinburgh. |
| Mr Salmond, 65, was first minister of Scotland from May 2007 until November 2014, when he stood down in the wake of the country's independence referendum. | Mr Salmond, 65, was first minister of Scotland from May 2007 until November 2014, when he stood down in the wake of the country's independence referendum. |
| What is Mr Salmond accused of? | What is Mr Salmond accused of? |
| The charges, which Mr Salmond denies, are set out in an indictment which includes the specific details of the allegations against the former SNP leader. | The charges, which Mr Salmond denies, are set out in an indictment which includes the specific details of the allegations against the former SNP leader. |
| As with all sexual offence cases in Scotland, the media is not allowed to publish the names of the 10 alleged victims or any other information that could identify them, unless they give permission. | As with all sexual offence cases in Scotland, the media is not allowed to publish the names of the 10 alleged victims or any other information that could identify them, unless they give permission. |
| The alleged attempted rape is said to have happened in June 2014 at the first minister's official Bute House residence in Edinburgh. He is alleged to have pinned a woman against a wall and to have removed her clothes and his own, before pushing her onto a bed and lying naked on top of her. | The alleged attempted rape is said to have happened in June 2014 at the first minister's official Bute House residence in Edinburgh. He is alleged to have pinned a woman against a wall and to have removed her clothes and his own, before pushing her onto a bed and lying naked on top of her. |
| The other 13 charges allege that Mr Salmond: | The other 13 charges allege that Mr Salmond: |
| Mr Salmond says he is innocent of all the allegations against him, and has entered not guilty pleas to all 14 of the charges. | Mr Salmond says he is innocent of all the allegations against him, and has entered not guilty pleas to all 14 of the charges. |