Alex Salmond’s wife, 82, turns up to support him at sex assault trial

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

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 with his wife Moira Salmond for his trial

Alex Salmond arrives at the High Court in Edinburgh for his continuing sex assault 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.

What is Alex Salmond charged with?

  • Indecent assault of a woman on various occasions in June and July 2008 in Glasgow by kissing her on the mouth and touching her buttocks and breast with his hands over her clothing.
  • Sexual assault of the same woman on an occasion in December 2010 at Ego, a nightclub in Edinburgh, by touching her arms, breasts and hips with his hands over her clothing.
  • Indecent assault of a woman on an occasion between October and November 2010 at Bute House in Edinburgh by repeatedly seizing her by her wrists and repeatedly pulling her towards him and attempting to kiss her.
  • Sexual assault of a woman in a car travelling between Holyrood Road and Waverley Station in Edinburgh on an occasion in February 2011 by touching her leg with his hand over her clothing.
  • Sexual assault of a woman on various occasions between May 2011 and June 2013 at Bute House, at the Scottish Parliament and elsewhere by touching her buttocks with his hands over her clothing, and touching and stroking her hair.
  • Sexual assault of a woman on an occasion between November and December 2013 at Bute House by kissing her on the mouth.
  • Intent to rape of the same woman on an occasion in December 2013 at Bute House by causing her to sit on a bed, lie on top of her, make sexual remarks to her, touch her buttocks, thighs and breasts over her clothing with his hands, repeatedly kiss her face, struggle with her and pull up her dress.
  • Sexual assault of a woman on an occasion in March 2012 at Ubiquitous Chip, a restaurant in Ashton Lane, Glasgow, by touching her buttocks with his hand over her clothing.
  • Sexual assault of the same woman on an occasion in April 2014 at Bute House by placing his arm around her, making sexual remarks to her and attempting to kiss her.
  • Sexual assault of a woman on an occasion in May 2014 at Bute House by placing his arm around her body, placing his hand under her clothing and underwear and touching her breast, repeatedly kissing her on the face and neck and stroking her leg with his hand.
  • Attempted rape of the same woman on an occasion in June 2014 at Bute House by lifting her legs and placing them over his legs, repeatedly kissing her on the face and neck, placing his hand inside her upper clothing and touching her breast over her underwear, repeatedly blocking her path, pinning her against a wall, removing his clothing and underwear, pushing her on to a bed, kneeling over her, pinning her to the bed by her shoulder, lying naked on top of her and then trying to rape her.
  • Sexual assault of a woman on an occasion in September 2014 at Bute House by seizing her by her shoulders, repeatedly kissing her on the face, attempting to kiss her on the lips, and touching her leg and face with his hand.
  • Sexual assault of a woman on an occasion in November 2014 at Stirling Castle by touching her buttock with his hand over her clothing.

Salmond denies the charges and pleaded not guilty.

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