Special adviser: He was quite keen on Xmas card
BY ALAN McEWEN ALEX Salmond was “quite keen” on the Christmas card with a kissing scene designed by artist Jack Vettriano, his trial heard yesterday.
Salmond’s former special adviser Alexander Bell said members of the then first minister’s team didn’t want it to be his official card for the festive period in 2010.
Bell said he “recalled the first minister was quite keen on the card but the rest of us said, ‘You must be joking.’”.
The 54-year-old, called as a defence witness, also told the jury how he checked on the “welfare” of Woman B when she had been left alone with Salmond.
Salmond is accused of grabbing Woman B’s wrists and trying to kiss her to “recreate” the Christmas card scene. He denies the charge.
Bell described being at Bute House in Edinburgh in late 2010 and going into a room where Salmond and the civil servant were together.
Shelagh McCall QC, acting for Salmond, asked if he saw “anything that concerned you”. He replied: “I don’t recall that.” Bell, who is now a journalist, said he saw “nothing unusual” when he entered the room after the alleged assault.
He added: “There may have been some joking related to the card but I don’t recall being told something she was unhappy about.”
Later, prosecutor Alex Prentice QC asked him: “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?”
Bell replied: “To ensure that the welfare of my colleague was OK.”
ALEX PRENTICE QC ADDRESSING THE JURY
Salmond is charged with sexually assaulting Woman D on a number of occasions between 2011 and 2013 at various locations, including Bute House and the Scottish Parliament building.
Woman D on a number of occasions between 2011 and 2013 by touching her buttocks over her clothing and touching and stroking her hair. The court heard from Malcolm Balfour, 65, an SNP councillor in Glasgow, who said he was a party activist in 2008. He said he’d met Woman A during that period. Mr Jackson asked if he witnessed any “inappropriate behaviour, unprofessional, bad behaviour” from Salmond. Balfour replied: “I certainly never witnessed any and I never heard anything at all in that respect.” Salmond denies indecently assaulting Woman A in 2008. Detective Chief Superintendent
Lesley Boal, 53, who led the police investigation into Salmond, was called by the defence.
She told how she declined to take a copy of the Government’s “conclusions report” from its internal investigation of Salmond.
Boal said if she was going to do an “objective investigation” then she didn’t want to be “unconsciously tainted by someone else’s opinions and conclusions, no matter who they were”.
Mr Jackson asked if the investigation was “very extensive”. Boal replied: “I would say thorough.” Asked how many statements the police took during the investigation, she said it was 386.
The trial continues.
Salmond is charged with sexually assaulting Woman G twice – once in Glasgow during 2012 and secondly in Bute House in April 2014.
Salmond is charged with sexually assaulting Woman H in 2014 before attempting to rape her the same year.
Salmond is charged with sexually assaulting Woman J in Bute House in September 2014.
Salmond is charged with sexually assaulting Woman K at Stirling Castle in late 2014, by touching her buttock.