Alex Salmond arrested.

"It's a thousand pities that 3/4 who act as juror members didn't sit an intelligence test" That is an outrageous statement! How can you discount 3/4 of the population? We need to exclude from juries people who judge others by their facial features that's for sure.

One person's helpful support can be another's sexual harassment.
I once had to type up a very sad report about a Baptist Minister I knew well who had given a teenage girl a hug when she came to him deeply distressed, having failed a vital exam.
His wife was in the adjacent room, the doors were open.
Nothing was seen or thought to be amiss until she went home and said how kind Rev Smith had been - and the parents brought an official complaint against him for hugging her - despite her protests and subsequently those of many people who spoke up for him.

He lost his job and his home too with all the attendant distress to his whole family.
I don't know anything Alex Salmond but the Guardian say, all the press have been cautioned to print only known, public facts. They list the charges.

That is the big downside of social media. The " gossip" in an office or pub that might have occurred in the past is now more widely spread and interpreted , spun and misheard. Opinions become truths so quickly nowadays and add to that the current dismissal of experience and expertise by Joe Public and truth is watered down so much it is unrecognizable.

I am just so sorry for his wife Moira. she is a bit older than he is and keeps a very low profile , what must she be thinking ?

Jalima, the MOJ that I'd posted about wasn't/isn't a high-profile character and furthermore hadn't received a fair trial either. Plus the fact that I'd studied the MOJ for years before I reached my conclusion.

Those who are high-profile can hide their " other lives " for years because being in the public eye with their recognised positions detracts from anything else that they are capable of, i.e. abuse and or sexual harassment.

If only, Anja.

Saying that three out of four people who sit on a jury lack intelligence is quite outrageous though and I just wondered how that opinion was formed - and perhaps they were intelligent enough not to be swayed by good looks?

perhaps they were intelligent enough not to be swayed by good looks?
In the alleged case of MOJ you are interested in, I mean.

Many sexual offenders are described as charming and friendly, that is how they make their opportunities to offend.

Paddyann you are usually so sensible in your posts (even when I do not agree with you), but this time I am sorry, but I think you have taken leave of your senses.

Some murderers can be charming too.

M0nica I think that paddyann said she wouldn't be back on this thread.
This is all a conspiracy, apparently, to Get him out of the way in case of a second Independence referendum.

As that won't be for another generation he'll be quite old by then.

Well, precisely. I just find it uncharacteristic of her to say something so silly and even if she isn't contributing, she may still be reading this thread.

It must be a shock to anyone who knows him and finds him charming and not at all sleazy, and who shares his passionate views on independence.

However, I'm sure this has all been investigated thoroughly and now it has to be ensured the trial is fair for all concerned - not just Salmond.

He is paddyann’s hero , hard to accept a hero may have ‘feet of clay’

All heroes have feet of clay. Always have, always will.

Perhaps, but not if it’s our hero, and certaintly not these allegations .

I suppose I have never hero worshipped anyone. I instinctively look or assume the feet of clay, even in people I like and admire. Possibly because my feet are laden with clay.

I do think these allegations are hard to accept. I certaintly don’t think anyone is perfect , we all have flaws .

I’ve never ‘hero worshipped ‘ anyone but throughout my life there are people that I have greatly admired -some well known figures that I’ve not known personally and others people well known to me. I’ve admired them for a variety of reasons. If someone you admire does something that disappoints or upsets you it can be very hard. If their actions undermine everything you ever knew or thought you knew about them and in particular if it involves deeply held moral and/or political views that are deeply rooted in your life, it must be very very hard indeed.

Annie they would be hard to accept if there was just one s or two allegation but there are so many . Think of the poor victims.

Paddyann exudes a Scottish nationalism out of every pore. Fine! but often at the expense of making anti English comments. For example on another thread she mentioned people she knows who lived in Wiltshire for umpteen years had neighbours who had never spoken to them. English obviously but when these people moved to the utopia that is Scotland there was an all encompassing glow of friendship that surrounded them. Naturally! People are people, some are friendly and some aren't, that scenario could have played out anywhere. Scotland doesn't have a monopoly on niceness, an English friend of mine who lives in Edinburgh has often been on the end of casual anti English sentiments from her own circle of friends. Possibly they forget she's not Scottish because she has acquired a slight Scottish accent since she has been living there for 30 or so years. However, when such instances occur she is quick to respond with "I am English and you are hurting my feelings" their response she tells me is "oh we didn't mean you" Seemingly just the other 54 million. Not everyone in England is stiff lipped, stuck up snob anymore than all Scots are raging religious sectarians.

As for Alex Salmond I have no preconceived ideas as to whether he is innocent or guilty that's up to the courts to decide.

Floradora my thoughts are with the women, I was thinking of paddyann, she greatly admires Salmon so the allegations must be a shock , her post aboutitv being a plot was irrational, such was the effects of the shock on her.

It will be problem to find a truly impartial jury for his trial. He's such a marmite character and there's been so much media coverage of him.

Yes, it's always those who you least expect and, Jalima, looks don't come into a guilty/innocent verdict when a crime has been committed----not so far as I'm concerned anyway.
And don't get me on the " pillars of society " etc., discussion.

maryeliza54 Your words have summed up exactly how I feel better than I can. The actual charges have been like a body blow to me. On the one hand they make the whole thing even further beyond belief and on the other, if he is indeed guilty, then my own judgement of the man I know is even more skewed.

I must admit to giving some credence to Paddyan's (and many other people's) suspicion that there is something fishy going on, mainly because of the timing of the case and charges. It has certainly been the headline news, and has detracted from coverage of the latest Brexit shenanigans. It puts enormous pressure on Nicola at a crucial time in Scottish Politics.

My heart bleeds for Nicola and Moira Salmond who must be in total turmoil.

" I don't know anything Alex Salmond but the Guardian say, all the press have been cautioned to print only known, public facts. They list the charges."
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" Innocent until proven."
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2 posts I totally agree with. A pity the press, the media , the public , ' some ' Gransnet posters do not abide by that principal as a rule.

There are ' some ' who should be ashamed of what they have written or said over the Tory Peadophile Allegations that proved to be a PACK OF LIES and political spin by the likes of Labour MP Tom Watson. Those who in the media, public, politicians , Gransnet who found it all too easy to join the Kangaroo Court over the likes of Ted Heath, Leon Brittan, Harvey Proctor , Lord Bramall, Lord Mc Alpine .

Salmond is no different to any man or woman , he deserves to put his case to the court. He deserves a fair trial.