Edinburgh High Court Jury Considers Charges Against Shetland Police Officer, Edinburgh 2026

Key Points

• Jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh have retired to consider their verdict in the trial of suspended Police Scotland constable Carmichael John Williamson.
• Williamson, 32, from Burra, Shetland, is on trial for four charges, including the rape of a woman and serious sexual offences involving a teenage girl.
• Prosecutors dropped five original charges during the trial, resulting in Williamson’s formal acquittal on those counts.
• Advocate Depute David Dickson KC urged the jury to find the complaining witnesses credible and reliable, stating the evidence pointed to a pattern of criminal behavior.
• Defence advocate David Nicolson KC told the jury to accept Williamson’s testimony under oath and clear him of all remaining charges.
• Williamson, who served as a constable for more than a decade and worked as an acting sergeant in Lerwick, denies all allegations.

Edinburgh (Edinburgh Daily) October 14, 2026 – Jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh have retired to consider their verdicts in the criminal trial of a suspended Police Scotland officer accused of serious sexual offences, including rape, in Shetland.

Carmichael John Williamson, 32, of Burra, Shetland, denies all remaining charges against him. The court heard that the accused is a police constable with over ten years of service who previously acted as a sergeant in Lerwick, but is currently suspended from duty pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

What charges are remaining before the Edinburgh jury?

As reported by Dave Finlay of Edinburgh Courts Press Services, Williamson originally faced nine charges, but the Crown withdrew five of them during the course of the trial, resulting in his formal acquittal on those specific allegations.

The four remaining charges allege serious criminality carried out in Shetland between 2014 and 2022. These include allegations of raping an adult woman in 2020 and 2022, as well as raping a teenage girl between April 2014 and October 2015, and engaging in sexual activity with her when she was under the age of consent in 2014.

“My primary submission is you should accept his evidence and you should acquit him.” — David Nicolson KC, Defence Counsel

What evidence was presented by the prosecution and defense?

During closing speeches, the advocate depute outlined the prosecution’s position on the remaining counts. As reported by STV News, prosecutor David Dickson KC invited the jury to find both female witnesses credible and reliable in their testimonies.

Dickson stated that the rape allegations and the claim of underage sexual activity were the central reasons the case had been brought to the High Court, asserting that the evidence demonstrated an underlying course of criminal conduct by the accused officer.

In response, defence advocate David Nicolson KC urged the jury to accept the testimony provided by Williamson under oath and acquit him of all remaining charges. Williamson testified during the trial that he did not commit the alleged acts and maintained that his sexual encounter with the second woman occurred only after she had turned 16 years of age.

“It was the rape charges and allegation of underage sex that had brought the case to the High Court… the evidence demonstrated that there was an underlying course of criminal conduct on the part of Williamson.” — David Dickson KC, Prosecutor

How did the proceedings conclude before jury deliberation?

The trial was overseen by High Court judge Lord John Morris KC. Following the conclusion of the closing addresses from both legal teams, Lord Morris delivered his legal directions to the jury, explaining the relevant standards of proof and the requirement for corroboration under Scottish criminal law.

The jury of men and women was then directed to retire to consider its verdict on the four outstanding charges. A decision is expected once deliberations conclude.

Background of the particular development

The trial of Carmichael John Williamson follows a comprehensive investigation into historic and recent allegations of sexual misconduct located in the Shetland Islands.

Williamson joined Police Scotland over a decade ago, serving the local community in Lerwick as a constable and occasionally taking on responsibilities as an acting sergeant. He was formally suspended from duty when criminal charges were brought against him.

The High Court in Scotland deals with the most serious criminal offences, including rape and grave sexual assaults. Under Scottish law, prosecutors must present corroborating evidence to secure a conviction, requiring two independent sources of evidence for each essential fact of an alleged crime.

The Crown’s decision to withdraw five of the initial charges during the trial reduced the scope of the indictment, leaving the jury to determine whether the evidence on the remaining four counts meets the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

Prediction: How this development can affect Police Scotland and the local community

The outcome of this trial stands to have a notable impact on public confidence in Police Scotland, particularly within island communities like Shetland where police officers are widely recognized figures.

If Williamson is convicted, Police Scotland will face renewed public scrutiny regarding internal vetting, oversight, and misconduct procedures for serving officers. Such a verdict would likely lead to immediate misconduct proceedings aimed at formal dismissal, alongside sentencing under High Court sentencing guidelines.

Conversely, an acquittal on all remaining charges would lead to Williamson seeking reinstatement to Police Scotland, though he may still face internal professional standards reviews. Regardless of the jury’s verdict, the high-profile nature of the proceedings underlines ongoing public attention regarding how law enforcement agencies in Scotland address allegations of serious misconduct involving serving officers.