Murrell, 61, has been charged with embezzlement.
Peter Murrell(Image: Getty)
A preliminary court hearing in the case against Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband has been postponed until after the Scottish Parliament election.
Peter Murrell had been scheduled to appear at the High Court in Glasgow on February 20 to answer to one count of embezzlement.
The Crown Office tonight announced the hearing will now take place on May 25 in Edinburgh – three weeks after the Holyrood election.
Murrell, 61, was the chief executive of the SNP for more than two decades.
He was charged in April 2024 following a long-running Police Scotland investigation – Operation Branchform – into the party’s finances
Murrell is charged with one count of embezzlement and made no plea or declaration after making an initial appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in March last year.
The estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon now faces a preliminary hearing in May.
Murrell dramatically resigned from his SNP role in 2023 following a row over the party’s declining membership numbers.
READ MORE: Young men more likely to live in poverty in Scotland than elsewhere in UK, ‘startling’ report warnsREAD MORE: John Swinney backs ex-SNP Government adviser after claims she offered grieving family £20,000 ‘bribe’
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “Scotland’s prosecutors act independently and in the public interest in all cases. COPFS understand there is significant interest in this matter which is active under the Contempt of Court Act 1981.
“The provisions of this Act protect the integrity of proceedings, preserve access to justice for victims and secure the rights of people accused of crime.
“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.
“The Lord Advocate and Solicitor General were not involved in decisions on this case.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here
