Weekly roundup of Scots law in the headlines — Monday June 1

Weekly roundup of Scots law in the headlines including ‘compelling evidence’ in Peter Murrell case – Monday June 1

This week's review of all the latest headlines from the world of Scots law and beyond includes a round-up of stories about the conviction of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.

Scotland’s highest criminal courts facing trial backlog

The backlog of trials in Scotland's highest criminal courts has nearly tripled, due in part to an increase in complex cases involving serious organised crime and historic sex abuse, the BBC reports.  

•        Organised crime and historic sex abuse cases driving trial backlog (BBC)

•         Rise in serious cases strengthens need for criminal justice reform (Audit Scotland)

•         Rise in number of serious cases in courts backlog as overall figure falls (STV News)

Police gathered ‘compelling evidence’ against Peter Murrell, Chief Constable says

Scotland’s police chief has praised the officers who carried out the Operation Branchform investigation into SNP finances, saying they gathered “compelling evidence” against Nicola Sturgeon’s former husband Peter Murrell, The Independent reports.

Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell said the investigators “worked under intense scrutiny” in a case with “significant public interest”.

Murrell, 61, admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP over 12 years, during which time he was chief executive of the party.

•         Police gathered ‘compelling evidence’ against Peter Murrell, Chief Constable says (The Independent)

•         Statement following conviction of Peter Murrell (Police Scotland)

•      Humza Yousaf says Peter Murrell deserves ‘hefty’ sentence for embezzlement (The Guardian)

•      Swinney rejects call for Holyrood inquiry into Murrell (BBC

•      [£] Nicola Sturgeon hits out at 'armchair detectives' in Peter Murrell case (The National)

And in other news

Legal headlines from across the UK and beyond:

•       [£] Prisoner transport is ‘significant’ cause of court delays (The Times)

•       [£] UK law firm Pinsent Masons reprimanded by court over AI error (Financial Times)

•       UK laws ‘not ready’ for humanoid robots (Scottish Legal News)

•       [£] Latest scheme to boost diversity of judges (The Times)

•       UK legal sector posts fastest growth in more than 15 years, Law Society survey finds (The Global Legal Post)

•       Starmer urged to intervene in ‘rigged’ Indian prosecution of British human rights activist (The Guardian)

•       Man accused of posing as medical student in hospital for months (BBC)