Pensioner who threatened to assassinate Nicola Sturgeon found guilty
A pensioner has been found guilty of threatening to assassinate Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
William Curtis, 70, sent threatening social media posts to Ms Sturgeon on various occasions between 27 February and 6 March 2019.
He was also found guilty of sending or causing a threatening message to be sent to former MSP Stewart Stevenson on 9 March that year.
Jurors at Glasgow’s High Court found that Curtis and Philip Mitchell, 60, also assaulted and abducted a sheriff in a car park in Banff, Aberdeenshire, in June 2021.
Mitchell claimed he was performing a citizens’ arrest on Sheriff Robert McDonald and had lawful authority to do so, but Judge Lord Weir told the jury there was no evidence to support this.
The jury began deliberating at about midday on Thursday and reached a verdict just over 24 hours later on Friday.
One of the posts from 6 March 2019 from a Facebook account in the name of William Patrick Curtis – which his former partner confirmed he had – was read out in court.
It read: “We have reason to believe while it is my intention to citizens (sic) arrest her [Ms Sturgeon] to answer her treason, over the last three years, serious people who reel the abuse to the electorate by her criminal activities warrants assassination of her and sevreal (sic) of her ministers, on down to even civilians who work in all agenices (sic) who have repeatedly lied to the electorate and conspired with the First Minister.”
Ms Sturgeon’s office manager, John Skinner, flagged the post to his boss and when asked in court what was made of the phrase “warrant assassination of her”, he said: “To murder the first minister.”
The message to Mr Stevenson threatened him and contained a link to a video relating to the murder of MP Jo Cox, the court was told.
The pair were convicted at Glasgow’s High Court
A direct Facebook message was sent to Mr Stevenson from “Carole Curtis”, reading: “Your turn is comming (sic) of that you can be sure.”
Curtis lodged a special defence of incrimination, claiming someone else committed the offence against Mr Stevenson, but jurors rejected this.
Jurors found Curtis guilty of a fourth charge of behaving in a “threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm” by posting “messages of a threatening and abusive nature” in October 2020.
He was also charged with the same offence for a June 2021 post but that was withdrawn by the Crown and he was acquitted.
All of the offences occurred in Aberdeenshire.
Both men will be sentenced on 3 March at Edinburgh’s High Court, Lord Weir confirmed.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
Read more from Sky News:
Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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