Police probe leak of Alex Salmond trial Whatsapp messages
● Murrell reported to have backed police action against the former first minister
Leaked Whatsapp messages appearing to show the SNP’S c hi e f executive and Nico - la Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell backing police action in relation to former first minister Alex Salmond are the focus of a police probe.
It was reported in a national newspaper that the Crown Office has instructed police officers to examine the leak of the messages.
The probe comes after SNP MP and former justice secretary Kenny Macaskill said he received an anonymous document with the leaked messages enclosed, including a message from Mr Murrell backing prosecutors taking action in relation to the former First Minister, it was also reported.
The document cl ai ms t o show that they were sent in January 2019, the same month Mr Salmond was under investigation by the Metropolitan Police in London – who later dropped the complaint – and when he had appeared in court charged with sexual offences.
The f o r mer f i r s t mini s - ter was later acquitted of all charges in March 2020.
In Scotland, it is a criminal offence for an accused person or his legal representatives to use information disclosed to the defence during a criminal trial for any other purpose other than to carry out the criminal proceedings.
T h e P r e s s a n d J o u r n a l reported part of the probe into the leaked Whatsapp messages will examine whether they were part of the dossier of information passed to Mr Salmond’s legal team during the criminal trial.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has instructed us to investigate the potential unlawful disclosure of material. Enquiries are at an early stage.”
Mr Macaskill, a Salmond al l y and now SNP MP f or East Lothian, had demanded a Scottish Parliament and police probe after he received the letter.
A S c o t t i s h P a r l i a m e n t spokesperson told the Daily Record: “All information received by the committee is considered in line with its statement on the handling of information.”
The handling of sexual harassment complaints is being examined in the Scottish Parliament by MSPS following Mr Salmond’s successful judicial review against the Scottish Government, costing the taxpayer £ 500,000.
The row has split the SNP and damaged Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon’s long- standing friendship, with Mr Salmond and his allies believing the former first minister was subject to a conspiracy.