Alex Salmond aquitted on charges of sexual assault and attempted rape

Alex Salmond has been acquitted of attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults, including one with intent to rape.

The former first minister of Scotland was cleared of all charges by a jury following an 11-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The jury returned not guilty verdicts on 12 charges and returned a not proven verdict on a charge of sexual assault with intent to rape.

Salmond had denied all the charges and giving evidence claimed some were “deliberate fabrications for a political purpose”.

The 65-year-old was first arrested and charged by Police Scotland in relation to the allegations in January 2019.

Alex Salmond, wearing his trademark saltire tie, showed little emotion as the verdicts were read out.

He turned to the two court security officers and said “thank you” to each of them.

Speaking outside court Alex Salmond said: “There is certain evidence that I would have liked to have seen led in this trial but for a variety of reasons we were not able to do so.

“Those facts will see the light but it won't be this day.”

He said: “I'd like to thank my friends and family for standing by me over the last two years.”

He also thanked those who have sent him messages, his “brilliant” legal team and the court service who he said have been “courteous beyond limit”.

Following the verdicts, Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw said: “As we all know, Scotland is dealing with a much more severe challenge today than this high-profile court case.

“That said, there are now some very serious questions facing the SNP, the Scottish Government and Nicola Sturgeon.

“The court case may be over, but for them this is just the beginning.”

Commenting on the outcome of the Alex Salmond trial, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“The court has reached a verdict and that must be respected. I am a strong believer in a vigorous, robust, independent judicial process where complaints of this nature, if they come forward, are properly and thoroughly investigated, due process takes its course and a court reaches a decision, and that’s what has happened today.

“I have no doubt that there will be further discussion around this issue in due course, in the fullness of time – and I will welcome that. But that time is not now. This country faces a crisis right now bigger than anything we have faced before and as First Minister my duty to the public is to do everything I can to focus 100 per cent on steering us through that crisis, and that is what I intend to do.”

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