Alex Salmond’s arrival at the High Court in Edinburgh for the opening day of his trial attracted a large crowd on the Royal Mile.
A throng of photographers and camera crews were in position next to temporary barriers well before the former first minister’s arrival.
Commuters making their way to work and French rugby fans preparing to leave following the weekend’s Six Nations clash added to the intrigued onlookers.
Salmond nodded and smiled at the cameras as he made his way into the building with his legal team.
Inside the courtroom, the former SNP leader exchange pleasantries with one of the two security guards who flanked him in the dock when he arrived.
At one point it appeared as if the trio were given sanitiser to rub on their hands during a break in the proceedings.
Shortly after 11.30am, court staff pulled 15 names written on sheets of paper at random before the selected members of the public walked past the dock to become part of the jury that will decide the fate of Scotland’s longest serving first minister.
Legal rules normally require courtrooms to be closed when alleged victims of sexual offences are giving their evidence during proceedings with usually only accredited media allowed to be present.
However, due to nearly 50 journalists attending yesterday with more based on the street outside, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service took the decision to set up a television feed in a neighbouring courtroom so the case can be viewed with only the jury, the legal teams and two reporters permitted to remain.
Outside, supporters of Scottish independence waited outside on the street during the lunch break while waving flags devoted to the cause.
Meanwhile, photographers remained at their positions to capture more images of Salmond and his legal team leaving the building at the end of the day.
