Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she was deceived and betrayed by her estranged husband following his guilty plea to embezzlement charges related to Scottish National Party finances.

Sturgeon stated she was "coming to terms with being married to someone she did not know" after Peter Murrell entered his guilty plea. Murrell, who previously served as the SNP's chief executive, admitted to the charges in what has become a significant legal case affecting Scotland's governing party.

The case has created personal and political turmoil for Sturgeon, who stepped down as First Minister and SNP leader earlier this year. The former couple's relationship has been strained by the legal proceedings, with Sturgeon describing feelings of betrayal over her husband's actions.

Murrell's role as SNP chief executive had made him one of the most powerful figures in Scottish politics behind the scenes. His guilty plea represents a major development in the ongoing investigation into the party's financial management and has raised questions about governance within the SNP during his tenure.

The case continues to reverberate through Scottish politics, affecting both the SNP's reputation and Sturgeon's personal life as she navigates the aftermath of the revelations about her husband's conduct.