Alex Salmond arrested.

Oh yes, I'm well over jury age.
It's a thousand pities that 3/4 who act as jury members didn't sit an intelligence test.

really likeable people can be sexual criminals and very unlikebske people can behave perfectly properly.
That is so true, and when someone is very likeable but has actually committed unspeakable acts it can then make it difficult for some to believe that.

maryeliza54

EllanVannin - I am astonished that you judge people on the way their facial features are arranged and the genetics that caused them to be arranged so.

Well let’s hope you’re over jury age EV

EllenVanin that’s nonsense everyone who meets a person will have a different view they can’t all be right or all wrong Some of the nicest most personable people are ‘wronguns’ that’s why so many people who hear someone is a murderer or rapists say ‘but he was a lovely man’ or woman I certainly always admired Rolf Harris I thought he was kindly and a lovely family man and was shocked to hear what he’d been up to

I loathed Cyril Smith !! Enough said.

Why is it irrelevant, Maryeliza ? Because not to me it isn't.

When I dislike the look of someone,intensely, it usually also tells me that there's something shifty about them also. I've rarely been wrong, even in " real " life.

In a nutshell political affiliation and referendum debates don’t matter in this. If he’s innocent, he’s innocent, if he’s guilty, he’s guilty.

That's true. No-one, I hope, would want facts to be concealed in order to further political aims.
But I agree with Granny23 that if AS is found guilty it will be devastating for the many, many people who have trusted him.

It is shocking that he is facing so many serious charges, rather than an isolated incident. It remains to be seen whether he is guilty or innocent.

Agree jane10. We are ignorant about the rights and wrongs of the charges. Less speculation the better.

Yes. It must be such a shock. The number and scale of charges. I reckon it will be a very nasty court case for all sides. Best leave the subject for now.

Lie =like obvs

It’s really irrelevant whether you lie him or not - really likeable people can be sexual criminals and very unlikebske people can behave perfectly properly. I have to say that I’d always admired him and am really shocked at the scale of the charges. A lot of his friends, family and supporters must be devastated at his even being charged in the first place

Horrible,horrible horrible !! I never liked the snide anyway.

9 charges sexual assault

14 charges, 2 for attempted rape, and several for sexual assault

Everyone needs to be very careful about comment here. In all directions.
Scottish Law has many more protections for accused and accuser once a charge has been made. It's to do with ensuring a fair trial or hearing and with prospective jurors not being prejudiced or witnesses being influenced (and is also the reason why some trials are held in places remote from where the alleged offence took place).
Initial court appearances are often held "in camera", or in private, to allow the police to continue to gather untainted evidence and - again - for the protection of all concerned.
It is quite possible for a case to be dismissed if the leading judge feels there has been prejudice and a fair hearing is no longer possible. That's actually the worst outcome all round, with the famous Scots "Not Proven" verdict being a close second. Both leave doubts and suspicions and unfinished business.
I suspect there will be some kind of cautionary statement from the court and - even if that is aimed at news media outlets - social media sites need to be aware, particularly those with no Scottish Law knowledge.
Katek's last sentence puts it beautifully.

I have met Alex and a less sleazy man would be hard to come across
That is hardly a defence.

Personally I dislike the man but he is entitled not to be judged except in a court of law.

I presume that those are the charges against him, but he's innocent until proved guilty.

I agree with Kalu's last sentence.

Another Yuck from me Anja. Whoever it is, whatever the age, I wouldn’t take that into account if I had to deal with any sleazy innuendos. ?Plain speaking....mostly only when it suits the plain speaker, in my experience anyway.

Re Alex Salmond, I know nothing about the alleged claims against him so will wait for factual proof one way or another.

Something I do not agree with though is, someone who is alleged of a crime having their name tainted all over the media. Too many innocent people have had their lives ruined with this practice.

I agree Katek. Well put.

In a nutshell political affiliation and referendum debates don’t matter in this. If he’s innocent, he’s innocent, if he’s guilty, he’s guilty. As usual everything descends into a slanging match where No voters are called traitors and Yes voters act as though they’re exalted. It’s nothing to do with independence and entirely to do with the sexual assault of two women, OR the innocence of a falsely accused man.

(Taken from FB post but says it all admirably)

I don't see any unionist conspiracy plots here. Its a helpful way for SNP fans to deal with disappointment of course.
Just too easy to take pot shots at Salmond but I won't as I know that several posters are distressed about it all.

I find it hard to believe, but then I did with Rolf Harris!