THE First Minister has said she will set out her "role" in the Alex Salmond case "in the fullness of time".
This afternoon Salmond was cleared of all charges by a jury following an 11-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
READ MORE: Alex Salmond cleared of all charges in sexual assault case
A majority of the jury found the former first minister not guilty of 12 charges of attempted rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. They delivered a not proven verdict on a charge of sexual assault with intent to rape.
Responding to the verdict earlier, Nicola Sturgeon said the court's decision "must be respected", and following the coronavirus crisis she would welcome "further discussion around the issue".
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she will explain her actions related to the Alex Salmond case 'in the fullness of time' after the former FM was cleared of 13 sexual assault charges.
— STV News (@STVNews) March 23, 2020
She stressed her 'entire focus' is on the fight against coronavirus. https://t.co/lNkuoPDMe9 pic.twitter.com/jgoIriGppT
Speaking to STV later, Sturgeon said: "The court has reached a verdict, a decision, that must be respected. I am a strong believer in a rigorous, robust, independent judicial process, where complaints of this nature, if they come forward, are properly thoroughly investigated, due process takes its course and a court makes it decision, and that's what's happened today.
"I have no doubt that there will be further discussion around this issue in due course, in the fullness of time, and I will welcome that. But that time is not now. This country faces a crisis right now bigger than anything we've ever faced before and as First Minister my duty to the public is to do everything I can and to focus 100% on steering us through that crisis and that's what I intend to do.
READ MORE: Alex Salmond Trial: Timeline of events up to today's verdict
"I stand by what I said to parliament. I will absolutely be very happy in the fullness of time to set out my role and to set out and explain the actions I took. All along my most important consideration has been ensuring that complaints of this nature that are brought forward are not swept under the carpet, that they're properly investigated and decisions are arrived at on them. I believe really strongly that in this country as in all countries women have to be able to come forward if they have complaints of this nature and know that they will be taken seriously, and I think that's important for everybody."
Speaking outside the court following this afternoon's verdict, Salmond thanked the jury and said the verdict had proved his faith in the Scottish justice system.
He added: "At some point that information, that facts, and that evidence will see the light of day."
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