Alex Salmond arrives at court for day seven of his trial - the defence begins today
A reminder that while stuff will likely come out on Twitter first, by nature reports here are going to skim the surface a bit due to limits on space & time to take legal advice etc. Keep across @BBCScotlandNews website and our Alex Salmond Trial podcast for comprehensive reports
The defence calls Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond describes himself as a journalist, tv presenter and “retired politician”. Gordon Jackson goes through his history in public life - first elected an MP in 1987, later first minister of Scotland
Gordon Jackson asks if there was a policy where female staff were not allowed to be in Alex Salmond’s company alone; no, he says. “There was no policy” like that, he says
Alex Salmond says there was a “blurring if the normal social-professional boundaries” in his private office - there was an “informality” as it was a 24/7 operation where people were “living out of each others pockets”
On to the specific charges - asked about the allegation by woman B about the Christmas card, Alex Salmond says she has “misremembered” - he says he took her hands and suggested they reenact the card, but it was “a piece of fun” and “high jinks”. Story has “developed” over time
Asked if he now wonders if he went too far, Alex Salmond says “from where I’m standing now, yes...I rather I hadn’t told that joke or had that idea of fun. But at the time it wasn’t regarded as its being presented now”.
On to Woman C - Gordon Jackson asks if Alex Salmond “disputes” the claim he touched her leg in the car. “Yes,” he says. He says back seat armrest couldn’t go back because it had a phone fitted in it; you couldn’t have your hand on someone’s knee without those in the front seeing
On to Woman D - Alex Salmond says he had no sexual contact with her but would occasionally “tug her hair” in an “affectionate gesture”, as it was so curly it would spring back immediately. He says he believes others did this too and that she never seemed offended or upset.
Alex Salmond says from where he stands now he wishes he’d been “more careful with people’s personal space”, but “I’m of the opinion that events are being reinterpreted and exaggerated out of any possible proportion”
On Woman G’s claim Alex Salmond touched her bottom after a dinner, Alex Salmond says any touching was on the stairs on the way in, when he gave her a “gentle shove to chivvy her up the stairs”, touching her lower back. He says it was “totally and utterly harmless”
On the other charge involving Woman G, of sexual assault at Bute House, Alex Salmond says he put his arm around her to “comfort” her but says he didn’t try to kiss her and says there was nothing sexual about it whatsoever
On to Woman J - the “zombie impression” claim - Alex Salmond says this didn’t happen; he says the only physical contact he had with Woman J was to tap her on the nose before he went off to bed, leaving her working on his computer. He says “nothing improper” happened.
On to Woman K, who says Alex Salmond touched her bottom as they had their photo taken - he says “it didn’t happen, I didn’t grab her bottom”
Court taking a mid morning break.
Back in session; Gordon Jackson moving on to Woman A. Alex Salmond says claims he kissed and touched her are “a fabrication from start to finish”; they were out in public at the centre of attention, it “would be insane to be doing anything like that”
Alex Salmond says the claim he sexually assaulted Woman A is “not just a fabrication, it’s ludicrous”. He says it “makes no sense whatsoever” and says Woman A has encouraged some of the other complainers to “exaggerate or make claims against me”.
On to Woman F, the charge of sexual assault with intent to rape. Alex Salmond says the two had a “sleepy cuddle” on his bed after drinking Chinese liquor. He says “it shouldn’t have happened”, but says it was a cuddle and there was “no struggle whatsoever”
Gordon Jackson notes this is a charge of sexual assault with intent to rape. “It’s not true” says Alex Salmond. “Not in the slightest. I’ve never attempted to have non consensual sexual relations with anyone in my entire life.”
Court now having a legal debate - jury are sent out, so nothing can be reported from this bit
Court back in open session. Gordon Jackson asking Alex Salmond about Woman H; he denies there was sexual contact on either of the occasions listed in the charges, but says there was a “consensual sexual encounter” on another occasion.
Alex Salmond says there was a “consensual sexual liaison [with woman H] in the bedroom which did not involve full undress of either of us”, and says “we parted good friends with no damage done”. He says this was on a date prior to those in the two charges which he denies happened
Court has broken for lunch
Back in session at the Alex Salmond trial. Gordon Jackson is taking court through Alex Salmond’s diary and calendar for the month of one of the charges involving Woman H - defence has lodged a special defence of alibi on this charge
After running through a series of dates, Gordon Jackson says from the diary and calendar, is there any time that month that Woman H could have been at Bute House with Alex Salmond? “No there’s not”, he says.
On to the attempted rape charge; Alex Salmond says he was “never” involved in anything like this with Woman H. He says he remembers the dinner with a celebrity she says she was at and says it’s “not possible” Woman H was there. He says he remembers the dinner and she wasn’t there
