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| Claims Coronation Street's William Roache raped girl 'unlikely' | Claims Coronation Street's William Roache raped girl 'unlikely' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A woman who alleges she was raped by Coronation Street actor William Roache described a "very unlikely set of circumstances", a court has heard. | A woman who alleges she was raped by Coronation Street actor William Roache described a "very unlikely set of circumstances", a court has heard. |
| Louise Blackwell QC, defending, said changing her mind about how old she was at the time cast doubt on her claims. | Louise Blackwell QC, defending, said changing her mind about how old she was at the time cast doubt on her claims. |
| "That's the sort of thing a young woman would remember with real clarity", she told the jury at Preston Crown Court. | "That's the sort of thing a young woman would remember with real clarity", she told the jury at Preston Crown Court. |
| Mr Roache, 81, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two rapes and four indecent assaults against five women. | Mr Roache, 81, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two rapes and four indecent assaults against five women. |
| The assaults are alleged to have happened between 1965 and 1971 with girls aged 16 or under. | The assaults are alleged to have happened between 1965 and 1971 with girls aged 16 or under. |
| 'Wildly at odds' | |
| Mr Roache is alleged to have indecently assaulted girls in the toilets and dressing rooms at Granada Studios in Manchester, as well as in his Rolls-Royce. | Mr Roache is alleged to have indecently assaulted girls in the toilets and dressing rooms at Granada Studios in Manchester, as well as in his Rolls-Royce. |
| One woman alleges he raped her twice at his homes in Haslingden, Lancashire, on separate occasions. | One woman alleges he raped her twice at his homes in Haslingden, Lancashire, on separate occasions. |
| In her closing speech, Ms Blackwell described the alleged rape victim's story as "so weak when you start to look at it." | In her closing speech, Ms Blackwell described the alleged rape victim's story as "so weak when you start to look at it." |
| She asked the jury: "Where is the evidence that they were in the studios, in that cottage or in that car? | She asked the jury: "Where is the evidence that they were in the studios, in that cottage or in that car? |
| "If you cannot be sure that's the end of the matter." | "If you cannot be sure that's the end of the matter." |
| She said two sisters who told the court they had both been indecently assaulted by Roache were "wildly at odds with each other." | |
| One of the women told the court last week that Mr Roache assaulted her after he arranged passes for her to visit Granada Studios in Manchester with her sister, who alleges she was also abused by Mr Roache on a separate occasion. | One of the women told the court last week that Mr Roache assaulted her after he arranged passes for her to visit Granada Studios in Manchester with her sister, who alleges she was also abused by Mr Roache on a separate occasion. |
| "When something memorable happens you remember details because it's true," Ms Blackwell said. "If, however, you're telling a story you don't have that under-pinning memory." | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |