Alex Salmond trial jury resumes deliberations

The jury within the trial of former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond has resumed its deliberations for a second day.

The jury retired shortly earlier than 14:00 on Friday after listening to two weeks of proof.

They had been despatched residence for the weekend about two hours later.

When the court docket reconvened on Monday morning, decide Woman Dorrian stated that two members of the jury had been discharged.

The jury will subsequently proceed its deliberations with solely 13 members moderately than 15.

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Mr Salmond denies finishing up a string of sexual assaults towards 9 ladies over a six-year interval whereas he was in workplace.

The previous SNP chief says he’s harmless of all the allegations towards him, which embody one cost of tried rape, one in every of sexual assault with intent to rape, 9 sexual assaults and two indecent assaults.

He has already been acquitted of an additional sexual assault cost towards a 10th lady after the Crown dropped the allegation through the trial.

The jury can attain one in every of three verdicts – responsible, not responsible or not confirmed – for every of the costs.

Regardless of the discount within the variety of jurors for 15 to 13, it’s going to nonetheless require a minimum of eight of them to have the same opinion for a verdict to be reached.

What did the trial hear?