Alex Salmond trial: key events in lead-up to verdicts
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Version 0 of 1. From a government review of conduct policies to the verdict at the high court in Edinburgh 31 October 2017: John Swinney, deputy first minister, tells Holyrood the Scottish government has begun a review of policies on inappropriate conduct in light of #MeToo movement. 2 November 2017: Leslie Evans, chief civil servant, notifies staff of zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment. 16 and 24 January 2018: Government receives two complaints of sexual misconduct from civil servants against former first minister Alex Salmond and launches confidential investigation. 9 March 2018: Salmond’s former chief of staff Geoff Aberdein is informed of two complaints. 2 April 2018: Salmond meets first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, at her home and says he will agree to mediation to resolve complaints; government investigation continues. 22 August 2018: Government tells Salmond it has upheld complaints and passed its findings to Police Scotland. 23 August 2018: News of government investigation leaked to Daily Record. 24 August 2018: Salmond begins legal proceedings, accusing government of abuse of process. 29 August 2018: Salmond launches crowdfunding appeal to meet legal costs, raising more than £100,000 in three days. 8 January 2019: Salmond wins court challenge after government admits it mishandled internal inquiry. Government says findings therefore “could not be allowed to stand”. 23 January 2019: Police in Dalkeith interview Salmond and charge him with 14 offences. 24 January 2019: Salmond appears in private at Edinburgh sheriff court on 14 preliminary charges, including two attempted rapes. He denies the charges. 13 August 2019: Government pays Salmond £512,000 to cover his costs from successful legal action. 21 November 2019: Salmond formally indicted on 14 offences against 10 women, including attempted rape, intent to rape, 10 sexual assaults and two indecent assaults. He denies every charge. 9 March 2020: Salmond trial begins at the high court in Edinburgh. One of the charges of sexual assault is withdrawn by the prosecution during the course of proceedings. 23 March 2020: Salmond acquitted of all remaining charges, except one of sexual assault with intent to rape, on which the jury returned a verdict of not proven. This stops short of a finding of not guilty but leaves the accused innocent in the eyes of the law. |