Sheriff is urged to convict ‘violent and domineering’ MSP
Saturday 3 auguSt 2013 A COURT has been urged to convict an MSP of a string of domestic abuse charges, hearing that his behaviour towards his three ex-wives was “violent, domineering, controlling and relentless” over decades.
Evidence shows Bill Walker, 71, engaged in “systematic physical and emotional abuse” towards the women over a prolonged period of time, Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told.
Prosecutor Les Brown told the court that Walker had, at times, treated the allegations against him “with an air of dismissive arrogance” and was inconsistent in his evidence.
“I would submit that Mr Walker’s violent past behaviour has indeed caught up with him, and that the investigation into his conduct has revealed evidence, led in this court, which supports the veracity and the reliability of the testimony of his ex-wives,” the procurator fiscal told Sheriff Katherine Mackie.
“I would ask you to accept that this behaviour over the years and decades was indeed violent, domineering, controlling and relentless. I would invite Your Ladyship to convict Walker of all of the charges in the complaint.”
But solicitor advocate Gordon Martin, defending, said Walker should be acquitted, and pointed to issues which he said raised reasonable doubts about the Crown’s position.
The independent
“William Walker was controlling in his behaviour” Prosecutor Les Brown
MSP
for Dunfermline is accused of a series of attacks against his three former wives and a step-daughter between 1967 and 1995, all of which he denies.
In his closing speech, Mr Brown told the court there is sufficient credible and reliable evidence to establish beyond reasonable doubt that Walker is guilty of all 24 offences he is charged with.
He said all three ex-wives – Maureen Traquair, Anne Gruber and Diana Walker – spoke of a similar pattern of behaviour by Walker.
There were four similarities in that conduct, he told the court. “First of all, that William Walker was controlling in his behaviour. He attempted to control the lifestyles of his ex-wives. He undermined their confidence. He was domineering and made them feel under-valued or worthless.
“Secondly, he had regular uncontrollable bursts of temper or rage, during which he shouted verbal abuse.
“Thirdly, he was violent and physically abusive.”
Finally, his first and third wives each described separate “unprovoked and inexplicable” assaults, which occurred shortly before their weddings.
Mr Brown said Walker’s stance that Mrs Gruber’s diaries from 1983 and 1984 – said to support some of the allegations – are fabricated was a “desperate and preposterous position”.
“I would submit that Mr Walker simply cannot face up to the truth of what he has done,” Mr Brown told the court.
“He has, on occasions,
treated the allegations with an air of dismissive arrogance.”
He added: “He has, in my submission, been inconsistent, evasive and shifting in his evidence in sometimes a quite obvious fashion. He has embellished his account when additional factual evidence emerges.”
In response, Mr Martin highlighted evidence of various reconciliations or attempted recon- ciliations between Walker his first and second wives.
And he pointed to comments, said to have been made by his third wife, Diana, to the effect that Walker was a “caring and home-centred man with an unexceptional temper”.
Walker denies 23 charges of assault and one of breach of the peace. The case will resume on 22 August.
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