Peter Murrell Arrives at Edinburgh High Court for Embezzlement Hearing

Peter Murrell arrived at Edinburgh High Court on Monday morning for a preliminary hearing in a case that accuses him of embezzling £459,000 from the SNP. The former chief executive of the party is due in court over allegations that cover more than 12 years, from August 2010 to January 2023.

Edinburgh High Court

The hearing centers on a copy of the indictment seen by News, which contained allegations that party money was used to buy luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome. Murrell, who held the SNP chief executive post for 22 years, was expected to appear in court on Monday morning as the preliminary stage began.

February Charges

Details of the charges became public in February, after the indictment was first reported by the Scottish Sun newspaper. The public filing brought the long-running allegations into view before the court appearance, and the case now moves through the preliminary hearing process in Edinburgh.

Murrell and Sturgeon

Murrell is the estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister. His court appearance ties a criminal allegation to a former senior party figure whose time in charge lasted 22 years, with the charges focused on how SNP funds were allegedly spent across the period named in the indictment.

The immediate next step is the court hearing itself, where the indictment can be addressed in public proceedings. For the SNP and for Murrell, the central issue is the same one set out in the charging details: how £459,000 in party funds is alleged to have been used between August 2010 and January 2023.