Ex-Scottish leader to stand trial on sex offence charges

Edinburgh, March 9 (IANS) Former Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Alex Salmond will stand trial on Monday over allegations that he sexually assaulted 10 women while serving as First Minister.The former SNP leader will face a total of 14 charges at the High Court in Edinburgh.The charges comprises allegations of 10 sexual assaults, two indecent assaults, one attempted rape and an assault with intent to rape.It is alleged that the offences were committed at various locations across Scotland, including the Scottish Parliament and the First Minister's official Bute House residence in Edinburgh.Salmond, 65, was First Minister of Scotland from May 2007 until November 2014, when he stood down in the wake of the country's independence referendum.He has pled not guilty to all of the charges.The trial is expected to last about four weeks.
--IANS ksk/