How Salmond denied all the charges he faces
ON the seventh day of his trial, former First Minister Alex Salmond took the stand to be questioned for four hours about the charges against him. His lawyer, Gordon Jackson, QC, asked for Salmond to comment on each of the allegations on the indictment, which contains 13 alleged sexual offences against nine women. (He has been formally acquitted on a charge by another woman, Ms E, a civil servant) Here we recap the claims against Salmond and his responses:
Salmond is accused of indecently assaulting Ms A by kissing her mouth and touching her buttocks and breast, and sexual assault by touching her arms, hips and breasts.
SALMOND’S RESPONSE: He said her claims were ‘fabrication from start to finish’.
It is alleged Salmond indecently assaulted Ms B by repeatedly seizing her by her wrists and attempting to kiss her.
SALMOND’S RESPONSE: He said there was no sexual intent – it was a ‘joke, high jinks’.
He faces claims that he sexually assaulted Ms C by touching her leg over her clothing while they were travelling in a car.
It did not happen, and could not have happened without people in front seats seeing this.
It is alleged Salmond sexually assaulted Ms D by touching her buttocks and touched and stroked her hair.
He did ‘tug’ her hair sometimes but not in a ‘sexual context’.
Salmond is accused of sexually assaulting Ms F by kissing her on the mouth, and in another incident allegedly sexually assaulted her by causing her to sit on a bed, lying on top of her and touching her buttocks, thighs and breasts.
SALMOND’S RESPONSE: He meant to kiss her goodnight on the cheek but missed and he kissed her mouth. It was ‘not sexual’. Regarding the second sexual assault charge, he did apologise to her but it was over a ‘sleepy cuddle’.
It is alleged Salmond sexually assaulted Ms G by touching her buttocks on one occasion and on another occasion sexually assaulted her by putting his arm around her and attempting to kiss her.
SALMOND’S RESPONSE: He ‘chivvied’ her by touching her lower back. In relation to the other alleged incident, he was trying to ‘comfort’ her, but it was not sexual.
He is also accused of sexually assaulting Ms H by allegedly touching her breast and repeatedly kissing her in May 2014, and in June 2014 he allegedly attempted to rape her in Bute House.
SALMOND’S RESPONSE: He denies sexual contact in May 2014 and has produced alibis for a number of dates. He denies attempted rape.
He claims that there was a ‘consenting’ sexual ‘liaison’ in August 2013.
Salmond faces charges he sexually assaulted Ms J in Bute House by seizing her shoulders and repeatedly kissing her face and touching her leg and face.
SALMOND’S RESPONSE: His only physical contact with her was to ‘tap’ her nose.
Salmond is also alleged to have sexually assaulted Ms K by touching her buttock at Stirling Castle.
SALMOND’S RESPONSE: He denies the claim: ‘I did not grab [her] backside.’