Peter Murrell due in court over embezzlement charge

Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, is due to appear at the High Court next month after being charged with embezzlement.

Murrell, the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, was charged in April 2024 following a police investigation into SNP finances.

He made no plea when he appeared at at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in March last year and was granted bail.

Police later confirmed that Sturgeon, who had been arrested and released without charge in June 2023, was no longer under investigation in the police probe.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) confirmed that a preliminary hearing on Murrell's case is scheduled to take place at the High Court in Glasgow on 20 February.

Details of the charges against him have not been made public.

A COPFS spokesperson said there was "significant interest" in the case but warned that it was covered by contempt of court laws.

They added: "Anyone publishing items about active cases is advised to exercise caution as material must not be commentary or analysis of evidence, witnesses or accused.

"Contempt of court carries penalties of up to two years in prison and/or an unlimited fine."