Prosecutor urges jury to convict ‘sexual predator’ Alex Salmond
ALEX Salmond is a ‘sexual predator’ who abused his power to satisfy his sexual desire, a court heard yesterday.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice, QC, said the evidence against the former First Minister showed a ‘pattern of brazen conduct’, telling jurors: ‘He did it because he could.’
He said the jury should consider the claims against Salmond, made by ‘bright young women’, in their ‘totality’.
Summing up his case for the prosecution on the ninth day of the trial, Mr Prentice said the alleged victims ‘felt they had absolutely nobody to turn to for an effective remedy’. He added: ‘Well, they do now.’ Salmond, 65, is on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh over 13 alleged sexual offences against nine women, including attempted rape. He denies all charges.
In his closing speech, advocate depute Mr Prentice said: ‘There is a common theme here
– that of a sexual predator with escalating gravity.’ He said the case was ‘about a powerful man who abused his power to satisfy his sexual desires with impunity’.
The QC said it was hard for victims to complain when they were ‘reliant upon an abuser’ for ‘career development’. He said: ‘Alex Salmond’s
conduct over the span of the charges was intimidating, humiliating and degrading and created an offensive environment.
‘I would suggest that the complainers in this case are courageous, brave women who spoke up to call out the abusive conduct of the former First Minister.’
Mr Prentice said the alleged victims were ‘prepared to put up with a lot to keep their employment’.
The QC said he would ‘not suggest that such conduct occurred every waking moment, nor would I suggest that the former First Minister was not an extremely effective politician, and on occasion was a great boss’.
He said: ‘He could be demanding but generally kind and funny on other occasions – but that’s life, isn’t it?’
Mr Prentice said the 15 jurors – nine women and six men – must decide on each charge whether a crime was committed and whether the accused was responsible.
The advocate depute said: ‘Much will be made of the failure of the complainers to advance formal complaints at the time.’
He asked: ‘Is it necessary that someone who had been the subject of abusive behaviour must complain? Is it the case that someone who is the subject of abusive behaviour must allow it to overwhelm her life and restrict it in a way that changes her life?
‘If people are able to put it behind them, are they then to be disbelieved because they did not act in a particular way?’ He said one alleged victim, Ms F, a civil servant, had been offered a new post with no change to her pay grade. This came after Salmond allegedly sexually assaulted her, a claim Salmond denies.
He has admitted he apologised to her after an incident in Bute House, his former residence in Edinburgh.
Mr Prentice said: ‘Why should she have to lose her job? She wanted to remain in the job she had.’
Commenting on the alleged victims, the QC said: ‘They were all bright young women with impressive CVs and great careers ahead of them.
‘Why should they give that up? I suggest they bind together to form a cohesive, compelling and convincing case of a course of conduct.’
Mr Prentice added: ‘Much has been made of Mr Salmond being a tactile person. I’m not entirely sure what that means. On any view, it is not a licence to grope women.’
Detective Chief Superintendent Lesley Boal earlier gave evidence for the defence. She said 386 statements were taken in the police inquiry she led. She said she had declined to look at the conclusions of the Scottish Government’s internal review of complaints about Salmond to avoid her own process being ‘unconsciously tainted’.
The trial, before Lady Dorrian, continues today, when Gordon Jackson, QC, representing Salmond, is expected to make his closing speech.
‘Abused his power to satisfy his sexual desires’