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Rolf Harris jury retires to consider verdicts on indecent assault charges Rolf Harris jury retires to consider verdicts on indecent assault charges
(about 2 hours later)
The jury has retired to consider its verdicts in the trial of Rolf Harris on 12 counts of alleged indecent assault.The jury has retired to consider its verdicts in the trial of Rolf Harris on 12 counts of alleged indecent assault.
After six weeks of evidence and summing up, the judge at Southwark crown court sent out the six men and six women with the advice that they should feel no pressure of time to reach their verdicts.After six weeks of evidence and summing up, the judge at Southwark crown court sent out the six men and six women with the advice that they should feel no pressure of time to reach their verdicts.
"It is by that route that we will ensure that you return true verdicts according to the evidence," Mr Justice Sweeney told them."It is by that route that we will ensure that you return true verdicts according to the evidence," Mr Justice Sweeney told them.
It was inevitable, he said, that there would be initial disagreements: "You should listen to the views of others as you seek to reach verdicts on which you all agree."It was inevitable, he said, that there would be initial disagreements: "You should listen to the views of others as you seek to reach verdicts on which you all agree."
During the trial the court was told by the prosecution that the 84-year-old entertainer was a "Jekyll and Hyde" character who used his celebrity status to assault young women and girls, treating them as "sexual objects to be groped and mauled when he felt like it".During the trial the court was told by the prosecution that the 84-year-old entertainer was a "Jekyll and Hyde" character who used his celebrity status to assault young women and girls, treating them as "sexual objects to be groped and mauled when he felt like it".
"He targeted fans who were mesmerised by his fame and talents," the prosecutor, Sasha Wass QC, told the jury. "He was a children's entertainer and they were beguiled by his singing and painting. And the penalty of their admiration was to suffer sexual assault.""He targeted fans who were mesmerised by his fame and talents," the prosecutor, Sasha Wass QC, told the jury. "He was a children's entertainer and they were beguiled by his singing and painting. And the penalty of their admiration was to suffer sexual assault."
Harris's lawyers, however, insisted the prosecution had failed to prove any of the charges. "Making allegations loudly and forcefully does not make them true," defence counsel Simon Ray told the court. Harris's lawyers, however, insisted the prosecution had failed to prove any of the charges. "Making allegations loudly and forcefully does not make them true," the defence counsel Simon Ray told the court.
The 12 counts involve four alleged victims over a period of almost 20 years, dating from 1968. Seven relate to claims by a childhood friend of Harris's daughter, Bindi, that Harris groped her from the age of 13, beginning an occasional sexual relationship which lasted until the alleged victim was in her late 20s.The 12 counts involve four alleged victims over a period of almost 20 years, dating from 1968. Seven relate to claims by a childhood friend of Harris's daughter, Bindi, that Harris groped her from the age of 13, beginning an occasional sexual relationship which lasted until the alleged victim was in her late 20s.
Under cross-examination Harris agreed he had sexual contact with the woman over some years, but insisted this only began when she was 18 and was consensual. Under cross-examination Harris agreed he had had sexual contact with the woman over some years, but insisted this had only begun when she was 18 and was consensual.
The other charges allege Harris groped a girl aged about eight as she sought his autograph at a public event in Portsmouth in the late 1960s, that he touched the bottom of a teenage waitress at a celebrity event in Cambridge in the 1970s and that he assaulted a teenage member of a youth theatre group at a pub in London in 1986.The other charges allege Harris groped a girl aged about eight as she sought his autograph at a public event in Portsmouth in the late 1960s, that he touched the bottom of a teenage waitress at a celebrity event in Cambridge in the 1970s and that he assaulted a teenage member of a youth theatre group at a pub in London in 1986.
The court heard evidence from six "bad character" witnesses, who alleged they were assaulted by Harris but whose claims did not form part of the formal charges.The court heard evidence from six "bad character" witnesses, who alleged they were assaulted by Harris but whose claims did not form part of the formal charges.
Wass told the court that while none of the 10 alleged victims knew each other, aside from a mother and daughter who claimed they were groped together, many described similar experiences, making a coincidence extremely unlikely.Wass told the court that while none of the 10 alleged victims knew each other, aside from a mother and daughter who claimed they were groped together, many described similar experiences, making a coincidence extremely unlikely.
Harris, however, insisted none of the alleged assaults happened and denied being anywhere near the location of some of them. Harris, however, insisted none of the alleged assaults had happened and denied being anywhere near the location of some of them.
Harris's long period in the witness stand included a precis of his 60-year showbusiness career in which he gave the court an impression of the sound of a wobble board and a brief chorus of his song Jake the Peg.Harris's long period in the witness stand included a precis of his 60-year showbusiness career in which he gave the court an impression of the sound of a wobble board and a brief chorus of his song Jake the Peg.
Harris, who lives in Bray, Berkshire, denies all 12 charges.Harris, who lives in Bray, Berkshire, denies all 12 charges.