Alex Salmond Trial Verdict

I don't think the women were lying, and I think Salmond's behaviour was/is reprehensible. But if you know this man to be a sexual predator, and you don't like him, why on earth would you go into his bedroom with him? These weren't naive young women frightened for their jobs; they must accept some responsibility.
I don't like Nicola Sturgeon and I don't like the SNP, but I don't believe they were elected because of dishonourable conduct. However, if this is internal power politics, it stinks.
Stinking fish indeed.

I bet Philip Scofield is kicking himself that he didn't keep his secret a bit longer, now.

No can do.

To conform to your way of thinking I would have to drop half of my scruples.

I used that merely as an illustration. How many of us have, with a few drinks taken, let things go too far and the following morning, woken up with a hangover and serious regrets, embarrassment, sense of shame? Would we call that scenario rape or blame it all on the man, or chalk it up to experience?

Well if it was on a soap

It does not necessarily follow that witnesses/accusers lied. They told their truth as they saw it and AS told his version of events. Presumably the jury found his explanations more compelling i.e. that things were consensual, or done in jest.

I remember years ago that there was a story line on a soap where a lovely young boyfriend/girl friend had sex. Shortly after the girl regretted it and cried rape. The story line then progressed to show that SHE felt raped, while HE was entirely sure that it was a consensual, loving progression of their on-going relationship.

There seems to be new allegations from women in London so it might all start again.

I don’t believe 9 women lied, what did they have to gain ?

Salmond is not an honourable man. We’ve certainly learnt that. It’s true that others are also not honourable but whataboutery is not an argument.

Some of the comments here about the nine women, some of which amount to ‘she was asking for it’, are exactly why women don’t report sexual harassment or assault. It’s misogyny through and through.

Yes, he was, but how he functioned!

I think the world of Scottish politics, law etc is vicious nasty and poisonous, and if revealed would make even current Labour shenanigans look as white as driven snow. More in common with the Mafia than anything.

The difference between Boris and Alex is that no woman has complained about Boris.
Salmond has not come out of this well. The SNP is in for a bumpy ride when all the shady dealings come to light.
That aside Salmond is a creep to be avoided by women.

OJ Simpson was innocent.

Roman Polanski, not innocent, but free as a bird, the chosen few.

Truly Princes amongst men, hahaha.

Absurd to think otherwise...

ananimous SNP dont believe in the House of Lords ,we dont put anyone forward for it .Elected representatives is all we have .

he didn't admit to being a serial anything ,he said he's no angel but that he didn't have sex with the women as he knew it was wrong BEFORE it got to that stage He apologised SHE accepted the apology .I dont know whose accounts of the trail you've been reading.The trial report I read said one woman 's complaint was he "played with her hair" Her workmakes confirmed everyone tweaked her curly hair as they passed because it was so springy and they all including her thought it was funny.One woman stated that he touched her through her clothes....on her arm .Must have been a very suggestive touch IN public .Another said he touched her knee in a car ,the defence showed that wasn't pssible with the layout of the car especially as it had other occupants as the armrests were between the seats .And it goes on Most of these wouldn't have got near a court before the Metoo campaign.
I have met Alex and Moira and I can confirm what Granny23 said before the trial ,he was the least sleazy man I have ever met and believe me I've come across a few .He adores his wife who is now in her 8o's.There are facts that weren't allowed to be used in court because the person involved wasn't a complainant but they will be disclosed by AS in time .
I t was taken to court Trisher simply to discredit him and keep him out of political life.The civil servant (appointed by WM) who encouraged the allegations appears to have sent e-mails to WM and Holyrood asking for "any dirt on AS" .One of the women who made such a complaint had been turned down as a contender for an SNP seat and was telling anyone who would listen that Alex will pay for choosing someone else.
Politics is a dirty business ,but getting knocked back for achance at aseat shouldn't be grounds for a court case

Wouldn't surprise me if they put him in the house of lords.

If nothing else, this exposes Alex Salmon as a serial adulterer. I hope it ends his political and public career.
And yet our PM has exactly the same history!
I don't know what was going on and as I have said would want to hear more. If it should prove that this was some sort of political campaign I can only think that these women have done a great disservice to other women. It is hard enough for women to get convictions in cases of assault as it is. If as it seems what happened was sexual harassment and not sexual assault I wonder why it was taken to court and not dealt with by the SNP. Surely it would have been easier to have an enquiry and discipline him? Now it seems he has got away with bad behaviour because of legal niceties. But I await the full story and his excuses.

I don't think the evidence the women gave was sufficient for the charge of sexual assault; I would have said sexual harassment but I don't have knowledge of legal terminology.. He said the sex was consensual; I did wonder what the women were doing in his bedroom when they apparently professed to dislike him.
Equally, I din't think they were lying, although one woman was proved not to have been there on the night the alleged incident took place.
But no way should he be allowed back into the political party.

Met him once wont go into detail ...will just say he should of been charged!!!

Jane10 Why would these women lie? It must have been appallingly stressful for them in the run up to and duration of the court case. There was nothing but humiliation in it for them.

I totally agree.

Aspen if you read the daily reports of the case it explains exactly how and why AS and the woman were in the bedroom. It doesn’t look good, the details are stomach churning.

Aspen you could also say if a rapist has been accused or charged before for a rape they cannot use that offence in a fresh case either! There have been men that have raped and because they cannot use that they have got away with it. When the jury had been told afterwards they have broken down in tears.

I cannot believe just because he isn’t charged you think these women lied! I remember being told if it actually reaches court they are most probably guilty. Sadly I do not have faith in our justice system when the lawyers can know they are guilty but have to fight their corner to get them off! I know of a man who raped a friend but he got off and she didn’t lie!

I think that is becoming a fairly common view, Ched Evans, the Irish rugby players, it just goes on and on, why would anyone report.