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Rolf Harris Court Case Continues, As Witnesses Give Testimony

rolf

Rolf Harris, 84, is one of the world's best known cartoonists, thanks to his work on British and Australian television, over five decades, fronting all manner of entertainment shows including Rolf's Cartoon Club, as well as his posed-for portrait of the Queen, as well as his musical career, recording songs such as Two Little Boys, Tie My Kangaroo Down Sport, Waltzing Matilda and a very peculiar version of Stairway To Heaven. In both Britain and Australia he was considered a national institution.

Earlier this year, he was arrested and charged with indecent assault and making indecent images. He faces accusations of indecently assaulting four girls, aged between 8 and 19, from 1968 to 1986. Over the last week, his case is being heard in court and has attracted considerable media coverage. And unlike other prominent media types who have been charged with similar offenses under Operation Yewtree set up in the light of Jimmy Saville's crimes being uncovered, Rolf Harris has always been much loved by British and Australians.

From the Guardian:

Answering questions from Sasha Wass QC, prosecuting, the witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, recounted the conversation, saying the alleged victim told her the assaults took place at her family home.

The witness said her former school friend told her more about what happened in a phone conversation when the pair were in their early 30's, saying she was in counselling over excessive drinking and the alleged childhood abuse.

"She told me Rolf Harris had been abusing her through her teens and beyond," the woman said. ""She said that at that moment she did not want to go into details but it was long and sustained, over a long period of time."

The witness told the court she advised her friend to go to the police, but the woman did not want to.

"She knew it would become a bit of a media circus and she didn't want to deal with that," the witness told the court.

From the BBC:

Seven of the charges relate to the woman whose brother has been giving evidence at Mr Harris's trial.

The brother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court he phoned Mr Harris after his sister told him about the alleged abuse.

"I told him why I was angry. I said 'you have abused my sister sexually'," he said.

"He said 'it takes two to tango'."

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From the Sydney Morning Herald

Though hidden by a curtain from Harris and the media, her claim that her life was "ruined" by Harris was reinforced by her numb, low voice, and her – and her family's – sad account of her descent.

From Sky News:

The court was also shown a letter sent by Harris to the alleged victim's father.

In it, he says he "begged her for forgiveness", adding: "When I see the misery I have caused … I am sickened by myself."

"I find it hard to like myself in any way, shape or form," he writes.

From the BBC:

The court had heard earlier that the woman accused Mr. Harris of assaulting her while on holiday with his family but showed "no hint of unhappiness" in a diary from the trip.

She claims Mr. Harris first abused her during the holiday, when she was 13, but said she would not have mentioned it in her diary.

In evidence, she previously told the court that she was scared of Mr. Harris and that his actions were "creepy".

From the Guardian:

The woman said she was accompanied by her 12-year-old brother but did not tell him at the time, or her mother later, as her mother was ill at the time.

Later, she said, she told her husband and children, and some friends: "Whenever Rolf Harris was on the telly I couldn't watch it. I'd have to turn it off. People would ask why and I'd tell them why."

The case continue, and is likely to dominate British and Australian media for weeks to come.

 

 


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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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