Salmond’s defence advocate under fire for train video
● Rape Crisis Scotland call for overhaul of sexual assault cases
The advocate who defended Alex Salmond and saw him acquitted of 13 sexual assault allegations, has referred himself to his professional legal complaints body after he was filmed on a train revealing the names of two women involved in the trial.
It was revealed by a Sunday newspaper that Gordon Jackson QC publicly discussed two of the women involved in the sexual assault trial while in a conversation on the Edinburgh to Glasgow train, despite their entitlement to anonymity. He also is said to have referred to Mr Salmond as a “sex pest” and an “objectionable bully”.
Reportedly caught on camera by a fellow passenger during the first week of the trial, Mr Jackson said he thought the former First Minister’s behaviour was “no’ right, but it’s no’ war crimes. Inappropriate, stupid… but sexual?” He then went on to name two of the women “who say it is sexual”.
His comments were criticised by Rape Crisis Scotland who called for an “immediate investigation” into his conduct and an overhaul of how sexual assault cases are handled.
A spokesperson said: “One of the most chilling aspects of this is Jackson’s statement about his strategy for the cross examination of one of the women in the trial: “All I need to do is put a smell on her.”
This statement alone confirms the fears of many, many survivors who do not report for fear of what would be done to them in court.
“Trials should be based on evidence, not on smears and attacks on character. We need an urgent overhaul of how these cases are dealt with.”
The revelations also came after nine of the women involved called for an end to the “trivialising and minimising” of sexual assault.
Yesterday Mr Jackson, who is the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates said: “I have decided that the proper course of action is to self-refer this matter to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, and that has been done. It will be for the Commission to consider this matter. To be clear, however, I do not regard Alex Salmond as a ‘sex pest’, and any contrary impression is wrong.
“I also deeply regret the distress and difficulties which have been caused, but given the reference to the SLCC it would not be appropriate to comment further.”