Weekly roundup of Scots law in the headlines including ministers' Peter Murrell delay denial — Monday February 23

This week's review of all the latest headlines from the world of Scots Law and beyond includes a the latest on the Peter Murrell embezzlement case and a row over Brewdog.

Ministers deny involvement in delay to Murrell court hearing

The Scottish government insists it had no involvement in the decision to push back a court hearing in the criminal case against former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, the BBC reports.

The 61-year-old faces a charge of embezzling almost £460,000 from the party over a period of more than 12 years.

A preliminary hearing scheduled for last week was put back to 25 May. Murrell has not yet made any plea.

• Ministers deny involvement in delay to Murrell court hearing (BBC)
• Scotland's papers: Murrell case 'tip off' and A&E targets missed (BBC)
• Swinney was told of Murrell charges weeks before they became public (BBC)
• John Swinney briefed on Peter Murrell charges before they became public (Independent)
• Demand for answers after John Swinney ‘tipped off’ about Peter Murrell case (Holyrood)
• Swinney vows to respect court ‘independence’ amid Murrell charge questions (The Standard)
• Calls for answers about Lord Advocate's email to FM on Peter Murrell charge (STV)

BrewDog sale plan leaves some ‘equity punk’ investors steaming

BrewDog’s army of “punk” shareholders have voiced anger and frustration after the Scottish brewer confirmed plans for a possible sale that could render their investments worthless, writes The Guardian.

• BrewDog sale plan leaves some ‘equity punk’ investors steaming (Guardian)
• I invested £12,000 in Brewdog - I think I've lost it all (BBC)
• [£] Is BrewDog finished? (The Spectator)
• Brewdog’s ‘Equity for Punks’ investors prepare to lose out (The Drinks Business)
• Matthew Lynn — BrewDog is the author of its own demise (Telegraph)
• Brewdog staff 'upset and concerned' by sale plans (BBC)
• BrewDog staff left in limbo as company put up for sale (STV)

And in other news

Legal headlines from across the UK and beyond:

• Mother of woman left to freeze to death on Austrian mountain DEFENDS boyfriend who abandoned her as he goes on trial for manslaughter (Daily Mail)
• Scotland's 'Queen of street Valium' who laundered cash and flooded streets with drugs jailed (Daily Record)
• [£] Fears for free speech as crackdown on Slapps is shelved (Times)
• Awaab’s Law should apply to temporary accommodation in Scotland, MSP says (Inside Housing)
• Norfolk farmer Tony Martin who shot teen intruder leaves £2.5m fortune to pub landlady (Daily Record)
• International humanitarian law is at risk – but it still carries weight — Kenneth Roth (Guardian)
• [£] Good Law Project ‘sells hope on trans rights despite court defeats’ (Times)
• Wasteman review – Brit prison drama is as lethal and nasty as a sharpened toothbrush (Guardian)
• [£] Quintessentially co-founder Aaron Simpson battles rape accusations (Financial Times)
• [£] How one efficient court cut delays without cutting juries (Times)
• Police arresting 1,000 paedophile suspects a month across UK (Guardian)
• [£] At least £1m of clients’ cash missing after collapse of PM Law (Times)
• Brazilian supreme court judge steps aside in Banco Master fraud case (Financial Times)
• [£] How can I settle the boundary row with my neighbour? (Financial Times)