The ex-SNP CEO is expected to appear in court for a second hearing on embezzlement allegations ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in May.
Peter Murrell will reportedly appear in court for a second hearing before next year’s election. The ex-SNP chief executive will appear for a second time on embezzlement allegations before the Holyrood election in May 2026, as per the Mail.
Peter Murrell, estranged husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was charged in April last year as part of a long-running police probe known as Operation Branchform. Now, sources close to the case have claimed a second hearing will be held ahead of the vote on May 7.
The timing of any trial – if the case proceeds to that stage – is unknown but may take place in late 2026, meaning the issue will remain at the forefront of Scottish politics in the lead up to the election and thereafter.
Mr Murrell is charged with one count of embezzlement and made no plea or declaration after appearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on March 20, 2025. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) told the Record in August there was no update on when he would next appear in court.
The 61-year-old was SNP CEO for over 20 years before he stood down from the post in 2023 following a row over membership numbers. He was arrested in April that year as part of the Operation Branchform police probe into the party’s finances, but was released without charge pending further investigation.
Despite Murrell being released, he was later charged. Ms Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie were also arrested around the same time as Murrell. However, they were released without charge and prosecutors have stated neither will face charges.
Prosecutors have been working on the Murrell case since Police Scotland completed its Branchform investigation in August 2024 and handed its findings to the Crown.
The Record previously revealed how taxpayers are set to foot the bill for Murrell’s legal costs. Solicitors acting for the ex-CEO had an application for legal aid approved.
According to the Scottish Legal Aid Board, an application for solemn legal aid by his solicitors was granted on April 30 and no payments have been made to date.
A spokesperson for the SLAB previously said: “When assessing an applicant’s eligibility for legal aid we look at their financial position at the time of their application to ensure they meet tests set by legal aid legislation.
“This includes information they give us about their salary, the amount of money they have in the bank and any investments, which might be available to fund their own defence privately. Peter Murrell’s application met the tests we have to apply when deciding whether to grant legal aid.”
The SNP also still owes Murrell £60,000 and may never pay it back. According to the party’s official accounts, Murrell loaned the Nats £107,620 in June 2021 when he was still serving as CEO.
The party later repaid around £60,000 of that sum, but accounts published in August state the remainder could be written-off in the future. The accounts also reveal the SNP is sitting £455,000 in the red after its expenditure in 2024 outstripped the party’s earnings.
Treasurer Stuart McDonald claimed the size of the deficit was “not unusual” as 2024 was a general election year – but added “steps have been taken to improve financial performance”.
