Nicola Sturgeon introduced onto election show panel
A lawyer has spoken out on the police investigation into Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP's finances, which remains unresolved as the Crown Office faces delays in deciding the next steps.
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Peter Murrell, the former Chief Executive of the SNP and husband of Nicola Sturgeon, was charged with embezzling party funds in April, but there has been little progress since then, leaving him in legal uncertainty.
Sturgeon herself, along with former party treasurer Colin Beattie, are still under investigation, with police yet to clear them of any involvement - meaning they are still technically suspects in the probe.
The inquiry was initially sparked when frustrated independence campaigners raised concerns about whether ￡600,000 earmarked for a second independence referendum had been misused.
This led to a broader investigation into potential fraud and misuse of party funds.
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The Crown Office is currently examining a report from the police (Image: Getty)
In April 2023, police raided the home shared by Murrell and Sturgeon, and a year later, Murrell was officially charged. However, despite the passage of time, the case remains in limbo.
Thomas Leonard Ross KC, a prominent Scottish criminal defence lawyer, has expressed concern about the ongoing delays, emphasising that the investigation "cannot go on indefinitely" now that charges have been filed. The Crown Office is currently reviewing the police report, but no decision has been made regarding how to proceed.
He told Sky News: "Once somebody is charged then they have the right to a trial within a reasonable time.
"Before a person is formally charged, there might be an argument as to whether the clock is efficiently running. There is absolutely no doubt that it is running in relation to Mr Murrell, so certainly the police and Crown Office have to be alive to that. The police inquiry cannot go on indefinitely."
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A leading Scottish criminal defence lawyer has spoken out on the case (Image: Getty)
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A spokesperson for the Crown Office told our sister paper the Scottish Daily Express: "Before deciding what action to take, if any, in the public interest, prosecutors will consider if there is enough evidence. There must be evidence from at least two separate sources to establish that a crime was committed and that the person under investigation was the perpetrator."
The protracted saga has taken a toll on the SNP, damaging the party’s electoral fortunes as they were humiliated in the General Election and have seen a dip in polling numbers.
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It has also weakened the broader Scottish independence movement, which largely depends on a strong SNP to lead the charge.
One of the original whistleblowers, Scexit campaigner Sean Clerkin, who was instrumental in prompting the investigation back in 2021, has voiced frustration over the delays, arguing that they are hindering the campaign for Scottish independence.