Letter: Real appeal

There obviously has been much criticism of the SNP for its reaction to the UK Supreme Court quashing a conviction (your report, 3 June).

However, critics seem to ignore two major points made by Alex Salmond and some with knowledge of law.

1. James Chalmers of the Edinburgh University Law School: "The Strasbourg Court cannot quash convictions, it cannot set anyone free. At most an EU Court can offer token compensation."

2. Paul McBride QC: "You can get to the Supreme Court in Scotland by bypassing our Scottish Courts but you cannot do that in England."

Put another way by the Newsnight Scotland presenter Isabel Fraser: "In Scotland if the Appeal Court says you cannot go further, you can go to the Supreme Court, but in England if the Appeal Court says no it's no."

Thomas Murray

Cairns Crescent

Perth