Witness says Salmond’s accuser was not at dinner
Woman who claims former first minister attacked her after Bute House meal was not at event, guest claims
A WOMAN who Alex Salmond is accused of attempting to rape at Bute House did not attend a dinner on the night she claimed he launched the attack, a jury has heard.
Samantha Barber, a leading Scottish businesswoman, told the High Court in Edinburgh she went to the event at the then First Minister’s official residence along with an independence-supporting celebrity in June 2014.
However, she said at no point did she see Woman H, a former Scottish Government official, at that meal.
Woman H claimed she was at that dinner at Mr Salmond’s official residence with two other guests before they left and he “pounced on her” and sexually assaulted her – taking off his and her clothes before lying on top of her.
Mr Salmond, 65, denies a charge of attempting to rape Woman H, and another charge of previously sexually assaulting her. He denies 11 further charges of sexual assault relating to eight other women during his time as Scotland’s first minister.
Miss Barber said she had a “strong recollection” of being invited to attend the dinner by Woman H, adding: “I don’t think she could go. She wasn’t going to be there.”
She recalled the Scottish celebrity at that dinner, admitting she was “a fan” of his and spoke to him for about 15 minutes before Mr Salmond arrived.
But, she said she did not see Woman H “at any point during that evening”.
Asked by Shelagh Mccall QC, advocate for the defence, how many people were at the dinner, she said her recollection was there were just three people and she could not recall anyone “interrupting” them.
Last week, the jury was played a recording of a police interview with the independence-supporting celebrity, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in which he said he did recall seeing Woman H at that dinner.
When Alex Prentice QC, for the prosecution, asked Miss Barber whether Woman H was in fact at that dinner, she replied: “I understand the police put that to me and I absolutely have no recollection of seeing [her] on that night.”
Miss Barber said the dinner conversation focused on the forthcoming independence referendum, adding how only one bottle of wine was consumed, although she was not drinking because she was driving home. She said she had a “positive, constructive and respectful” relationship with Mr Salmond.
Woman H told the court Mr Salmond had been drinking after the dinner and pushed her on the bed and climbed on top of her.
However, Mr Salmond told the court this week that he had an earlier “consensual sexual encounter” with Woman H.
The court also heard of a text message Woman H sent to Mr Salmond a year after she claimed he launched his attack in which she said “it would be great” to work with him again.
Earlier, the court heard the complainant had been one of Mr Salmond’s biggest “cheerleaders” until he failed to help her with a personal project and she had been left “annoyed”.
The trial continues today.