This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27541102
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Rolf Harris trial: 'No evidence' entertainer at events | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| No independent evidence exists to prove entertainer Rolf Harris was at events where he allegedly groped two girls, a court has heard. | No independent evidence exists to prove entertainer Rolf Harris was at events where he allegedly groped two girls, a court has heard. |
| Southwark Crown Court was told there was no trace of him appearing at a community centre near Portsmouth in 1969 or an event in Cambridge in 1975. | Southwark Crown Court was told there was no trace of him appearing at a community centre near Portsmouth in 1969 or an event in Cambridge in 1975. |
| Nothing was found despite searches of newspaper archives, the jury heard. | Nothing was found despite searches of newspaper archives, the jury heard. |
| Mr Harris, 84, denies 12 counts of indecent assault on four girls aged between seven or eight and 19. | Mr Harris, 84, denies 12 counts of indecent assault on four girls aged between seven or eight and 19. |
| The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 1968 and 1986. | The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 1968 and 1986. |
| One alleged victim claimed he groped her bottom, when she was 13 or 14, outside a Celebrity It's a Knock Out event in Cambridge. | One alleged victim claimed he groped her bottom, when she was 13 or 14, outside a Celebrity It's a Knock Out event in Cambridge. |
| Letter drops | Letter drops |
| Sonia Woodley QC, defending, put it to senior investigating officer Det Sgt Gary Pankhurst: "There is no independent evidence of any kind to put Mr Harris in Cambridge in the year of 1975." | Sonia Woodley QC, defending, put it to senior investigating officer Det Sgt Gary Pankhurst: "There is no independent evidence of any kind to put Mr Harris in Cambridge in the year of 1975." |
| Det Sgt Pankhurst said that the alleged victim had not been entirely sure of the date, but "1975 was clearly she felt the most certain". | Det Sgt Pankhurst said that the alleged victim had not been entirely sure of the date, but "1975 was clearly she felt the most certain". |
| Another woman claimed Mr Harris touched her intimately when she was seven or eight after she queued to get his autograph at a community centre near Portsmouth in 1969. | Another woman claimed Mr Harris touched her intimately when she was seven or eight after she queued to get his autograph at a community centre near Portsmouth in 1969. |
| No confirmation could be found that Mr Harris had been there, despite searches of local newspaper archives, council records and letter drops appealing for witnesses. | No confirmation could be found that Mr Harris had been there, despite searches of local newspaper archives, council records and letter drops appealing for witnesses. |
| This included looking at copies of the Portsmouth News between January 1967 and May 1974. | This included looking at copies of the Portsmouth News between January 1967 and May 1974. |
| When the allegation was put to Mr Harris, he told police: "I would simply never touch a child inappropriately." | When the allegation was put to Mr Harris, he told police: "I would simply never touch a child inappropriately." |
| Swimming pool | |
| Earlier, the jury of six men and six women was shown cine film footage of a third alleged victim who was friends with Mr Harris's daughter Bindi. | |
| The footage, taken in Australia in 1978, showed the alleged victim swimming in a pool wearing a light-coloured bikini. | |
| Det Sgt Gary Pankhurst told the court officers from Operation Yewtree received a referral from the child abuse charity, the NSPCC, three weeks after the investigation was set up. | |
| A counsellor claimed they had been dealing with a women since 1998 who said she had been abused by Mr Harris. The women herself - the third alleged victim - came forward the following day. | |
| The following month police searched Mr Harris's home in Bray, Berkshire, while he was abroad but his daughter was present, and seized exhibits including the cine film. | |
| In a prepared statement to police, Mr Harris said about his daughter's friend: "I categorically deny having had any sexual contact with the complainant whatsoever while she was under the age of 16. | |
| "I accept that I did have a consensual sexual relationship with the complainant when she was an adult. I finished the relationship and she was extremely upset." | |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |