Alex Salmond has arrived at the High Court in Edinburgh for day nine of his trial, today accompanied by his wife Moira. Expecting the final defence witnesses this morning, before summing up speeches begin.
Court getting under way now - obvs a bit later than usual, Lady Dorrian tells jury that an “administrative matter” had to be dealt with. Defence case continues
First defence witness today is Aileen Easton, who headed Alex Salmond’s govt comms team. She says the first minister could be “extremely demanding”, but she didn’t have any concerns for her female staff working with Alex Salmond.
Court discussing whether Woman D showed photo of herself in a bikini to Alex Salmond. Aileen Easton says she was “taken aback” by this, was inappropriate & not professional. Lady Dorrian presses whether witness was there when photo was shown to FM; she says doesn’t think she was
Next witness is Glasgow councillor Malcolm Balfour; Gordon Jackson asks if he heard any suggestion of inappropriate behaviour by Alex Salmond during 2008 campaigning. “I certainly never witnessed any and I never heard anything at all in that respect”.
Next witness is DCS Lesley Boal, who led police investigation into Alex Salmond; she confirms she did not accept a copy of the conclusions of the govt’s internal investigation in case her inquiry was “unconsciously tainted” by it. She says her team took 386 statements.
The next witness the defence wanted to call is in isolation, apparently. “Splendid isolation”, Gordon Jackson says - defence aren’t relying on their testimony though so we will just move on
Next witness is Alex Bell, who worked for Alex Salmond. Asked about the Christmas card incident with Woman B, he says he doesn’t recall seeing anything that concerned him; “there may have been some joking” around the card but he doesn’t remember Woman B being unhappy about it.
In cross examination, Alex Prentice asks if Alex Bell went upstairs to join Woman B and Alex Salmond because he was concerned about her being alone with him; he says he returned to the room “to ensure the welfare” of Woman B
Next witness is Alex Salmond’s former driver, Roger Cherry. He says he can’t remember who sat where on the night Woman C says Alex Salmond touched her leg, but he confirms that the back seat armrest could not be retracted and the atmosphere was “very jovial and happy”
After agreement of a joint minute of various defence productions, that’s the end of the defence case. Speeches next, although Lady Dorrian wants to discuss matters with the two legal teams first.
Currently lunchtime at court, btw. Expecting Alex Prentice to sum up this afternoon, then Gordon Jackson tomorrow morning. On the (potentially bold) presumption the Dean of Faculty doesn’t speak all day, we could see the jury charged by Lady Dorrian then sent out tomorrow.
Alex Prentice says he wants the jury to convict Alex Salmond of all that’s on the indictment. He says they are the masters of the facts; they decide what evidence they accept, what they reject, and what conclusions to draw.
Alex Prentice says “I suggest that Alex Salmond’s conduct was intimidating, humiliating, degrading and created an offensive environment”. “This is a powerful man who used his power to satisfy his sexual desires with impunity.”
Alex Prentice says jury are entitled to dismiss the evidence of the nine complainers as being fabricated or exaggerated, but equally they can regard them as “truthful and honest witnesses”. He says that if you do, then “you see a pattern emerges”.
Alex Prentice says much has been made of Alex Salmond being a “tactile person” - he tells the jury that he’s not sure what this means, but it’s “not a licence to grope women”. He says there’s a “course of conduct of seeking sexual gratification”.
Alex Prentice running through the charges one by one urging jury to look at the context around the circumstances. Of young women alone late at night at Bute House. He asks if claims of each complainant chime with the others, suggesting there is an “emerging pattern”
Alex Prentice says there is an “ongoing course of conduct” through the indictment, “a common theme of a sexual predator with escalating gravity”
Alex Prentice says there is a further common theme running through this case, that “these ladies effectively had nobody to turn to”. They felt they could not speak out to expose what was going on.
Alex Prentice concludes his speech by telling the jury: “they felt they had nobody to turn to for an effective remedy - well they do now. I invite you to convict Alex Salmond of the charges against him.”
Gordon Jackson will sum up for the defence tomorrow morning; then Lady Dorrian will give directions to the jury and send them out to consider their verdict.
