Alex Salmond’s wife, 82, turns up to support him at sex assault trial where jurors hear how ex-SNP leader ‘abused his power to satisfy his sexual desires with impunity’
- Alex Salmond’s wife Moira Salmond has turned up to support him at High Court
- It is thought to be the 82-year-old’s first appearance at the landmark trial
- Salmond was called a ‘sexual predator’ who ‘abused his power to satisfy his sexual desires with impunity’ by advocate Alex Prentice QC
- The former Scottish First Minister’s alleged behaviour was called ‘brazen’
- He is accused of 13 sex offences against nine women, all of which he denies
- Today his former adviser said that he checked on the ‘welfare’ of complainer
- Judge Dorrian said all evidence had been presented, with speeches to follow
Alex Salmond’s wife turned up to support him today at a landmark sex assault trial where he is accused of 13 offences against nine women.
It is believed to be 82-year-old Moira Salmond’s first appearance at the High Court in Edinburgh, where the ex-SNP leader is denying all 13 allegations.
She listened as advocate Alex Prentice QC called the former First Minister a ‘sexual predator’ who ‘abused his power to satisfy his sexual desires with impunity’.
Mr Prentice thundered that Salmond’s ‘conduct over the span of the charges was intimidating, humiliating, degrading, and created an offensive environment’.
The lawyer excoriated his ’emerging pattern’ of ‘brazen’ and ‘abusive’ conduct, and praised the ‘courageous’ women who ‘spoke up to call out’ his alleged behaviour.
He told the court: ‘What I suggest is an ongoing course of conduct. There is a common theme here – that of a sexual predator with escalating gravity.
‘This is an emerging pattern here. Brazen conduct. He did it because he could.
‘It’s hard to complain when you rely upon your abuser for opportunities and career development and when you are fully aware of an abuser’s reach and control.’
Alex Salmond arrives at the High Court in Edinburgh with his wife Moira Salmond for his trial
Moira Salmond, wife of Alex Salmond, arrives at the High Court in Edinburgh for the ninth day of the former Scottish First Minister’s trial over accusations of sexual assault
Alex Salmond arrives at the High Court in Edinburgh with his wife Moira Salmond for his trial
Alex Salmond arrives at the High Court in Edinburgh for his continuing sex assault trial
Jurors also heard from one of Salmond’s witnesses – his former adviser – who claims he checked on the ‘welfare’ of a woman left alone with the politician.
Salmond previously said a civil servant in the Scottish Government, known as Woman B, had ‘misremembered’ an incident in which he is accused of grabbing her and trying to kiss her following a meeting at Bute House in 2010.
She earlier told the court how trying to shake Salmond off was like ‘wrestling with an octopus’ after he allegedly tried to recreate the pose on a Christmas card, which featured an image of a man and woman about to kiss.
Former special adviser Alexander Bell, 54, said on the ninth day of the trial that he had seen ‘nothing unusual’ when he entered the room after the alleged assault.
‘There may have been some joking related to the card but I don’t recall being told something she was unhappy about,’ he said.
Alex Prentice QC, for the Crown, said: ‘The first minister and (the complainer) were alone in the drawing room, you having left and gone downstairs.
‘Did you consider it necessary to return to the room?
‘What was your intention in returning to the room?’
Journalist Mr Bell said: ‘To ensure that the welfare of my colleague was OK.’
Salmond is on trial over accusations of sexual assault, including an attempted rape, spanning a period between June 2008 and November 2014.
His lawyers previously lodged special defences of consent and alibi.
Consent was given as a defence for three alleged sexual assaults and an alleged indecent assault against three women.
Judge Lady Dorrian told the jury they have now heard all of the evidence in the case with speeches to follow.
The trial continues.