A FORMER wife of a politician facing a string of domestic abuse charges has told a court evidence of her ex-husband striking her before their marriage was visible in a wedding picture.

Maureen Traquair, MSP Bill Walker's first wife, has already given evidence over assaults allegedly perpetrated on her during his trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, including a black eye she said she suffered before the marriage.

However, Sheriff Katherine Mackie agreed to a prosecution move to recall her as a witness to give further testimony as the trial resumed after a break yesterday, despite defence opposition.

The ex-wife agreed she had unexpectedly come into possession of a wedding photograph after giving her earlier evidence. She said her sister had come across it among items belonging to her mother while she was looking for other pictures.

She agreed that she had thrown out her wedding pictures in 1970 following her divorce from her former husband. She earlier said she had married Mr Walker, 71, in January 1967 but he had punched her before throwing her engagement ring out a car window a fortnight before the ceremony.

Fiscal Les Brown asked her if she had looked at the photo and what she saw.

She replied: "Some of the ­bruising is still showing through the concealer and I had some light foundation on as well."

She said she could could still see the bruising which was a dark colour and added that green concealer had been applied which her mother helped with.

Mr Brown asked if she was well aware of the injury and was trying to help her daughter cover it up. She said this was the case.

The bride had also worn a veil for her wedding day. Ms Traquair said it "quite voluminous" and her mother "pulled a little bit out to give a little bit extra cover".

She said: "She adjusted the veil before I left the house." She agreed that the bruising had faded to some extent by the time of the marriage.

She denied a suggestion by defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin that what she described as a mark caused by Mr Walker was a figment of her imagination.

Mr Martin said: "Is it not simply a shadow on the photograph, if anything?" But she replied: "No."

The artist and award-winning photographer said: "If it were a shadow there would be corresponding shadows on Bill Walker as well."

Mr Walker has denied ­assaulting Ms Traquair in January 1967 in Edinburgh, by punching her on the face. He has also pled not guilty to committing a further assault on her in December 1969 in the city by slapping her on the face.

He further denies committing another assault on her in the 1980s at Balerno in which it is alleged he forcibly removed a ring from her finger.

Prosecutors claim the ­politician assaulted ex-wives Ms Traquair, Anne Walker now Gruber, 71, and Diana Walker, 61. It is also alleged that he assaulted Anne Louise Paterson.

The offences are said to have occurred in Edinburgh, Stirling, Midlothian and Alloa, in Clackmannanshire.

The alleged offences are said to have occurred between January 1967 and January 1995.

Mr Walker, a former SNP member, who sits as MSP for Dunfermline, in Fife, in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, has denied a total of 23 charges of assault.

The MSP, of Alloa, also denies a further charge of breach of the peace.

Lawyers acting for Mr Walker earlier lodged special defences of self defence to three of the charges he faces.

The trial before Sheriff Mackie continues.

DAVE FINLAY