STURGEON IN CLEAR BUT MURRELL GOES TO COURT

Murrell appears in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court

- Richard Elias and David Walker

NICOLA Sturgeon has admitted to having "mixed emotions" after she was cleared of any wrong-doing amid the police probe into SNP finances.

But estranged husband Peter Murrell appeared in court almost four years on after "Operation Branchform" was launched by police into allegations of missing party cash, the Crown Prosecution yesterday confirmed that the former First Minister had been exonerated.

But just a short time earlier, her estranged husband Peter Murrell stood in the dock at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

The case against the 60-year-old former chief executive of the SNP was held in private on petition and he did not make any plea.

Proceedings been continued with a new date yet to be set.

It soon emerged that Murrell's 54-year-old wife along with the former treasurer of the SNP, Colin Beattie, 73, who had both been arrested as part of the "Branchform" probe, were not going to face any charges.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "Following direction from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, criminal inquiries into two people arrested as part of the investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party have now concluded. The 73-year-old man arrested on April 18, 2023, and the 54-year-old woman arrested on June 11, 2023, have not been charged and are no longer under investigation." Ms Sturgeon later spoke about the news on the front lawn of her home in Glasgow.