This story was first reported by Mary Gearin on August 30th. Why it was invisible until now is a mystery. I found it on the Australian Broadcasting Corp. - ABC news feed. Rolf Harris is an Aussie who lives in London. In the 1970's he was one of my favorite entertainers; one of the most creative people I have ever seen. This is extremely disappointing news.
ELIZABETH JACKSON: In revelations that have shocked fans on two continents, popular Australian entertainer Rolf Harris has been charged with 13 child sex offences.
Nine relate to two teenage girls, in offences alleged to have taken place in the 1980s. Four charges of making indecent images of a child relate to events alleged to have happened last year.
Here's our Europe correspondent Mary Gearin.
MARY GEARIN: There was little sign of movement at the 83 year old's house in Berkshire, outside London and neighbours wanted little to do with the media posse that's been dropping in and out of the area for months, trying to track down the veteran entertainer.
There's been no response either from Mr Harris' legal or show-business representatives to the revelation that he could soon face trial.
Nine months after first being interviewed by police, Rolf Harris walked into a police station to be charged with 13 offences.
He faces six counts of indecent assault between 1980 and 1981 relating to a girl aged between 15 and16 and three counts involving a 14 year old girl in 1986.
Mr Harris also faces four charges of making indecent images of a child between March and July last year.
If he is found guilty of the indecent assault charges of the early 80s and the indecent images charges, Mr Harris faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years' jail for each count. He faces a maximum 10 year sentence for each of the 1986 indecent assault charges.
Rolf Harris is the highest profile celebrity to be charged after investigations from Operation Yewtree.
That was set up in the wake of child sexual abuse allegations against the late BBC entertainer Jimmy Savile, but the investigations regarding Rolf Harris are unrelated to Savile's activities.
Of the 14 people arrested under Operation Yewtree, Mr Harris is the fourth to be charged. Most of the allegations that were made in the wake of the Savile scandal are historical, sometimes decades old, and many relate to celebrities.
Criminal solicitor Julian Young says fame is a complication in court.
JULIAN YOUNG: Fame is possibly a problem from both the defence point of view and the prosecutor's point of view. The prosecutor's point of view, or police point of view, because of course people see this plastered in the newspapers and may wish wrongly to join in the bandwagon.
For the defence point of view of course fame is, well, what was happening in the BBC or ITV or whichever company it was that was making the program, what was the sexual morality of the day? It is a problem from both points of view
Rolf Harris has made two appearances on stage in the past few months since his name was publicly linked to the investigations and each time he's briefly thanked fans for their support.
He will face court in late September when police say a trial date could be set.
This is Mary Gearin in London for AM.
ELIZABETH JACKSON: In revelations that have shocked fans on two continents, popular Australian entertainer Rolf Harris has been charged with 13 child sex offences.
Nine relate to two teenage girls, in offences alleged to have taken place in the 1980s. Four charges of making indecent images of a child relate to events alleged to have happened last year.
MARY GEARIN: There was little sign of movement at the 83 year old's house in Berkshire, outside London and neighbours wanted little to do with the media posse that's been dropping in and out of the area for months, trying to track down the veteran entertainer.
There's been no response either from Mr Harris' legal or show-business representatives to the revelation that he could soon face trial.
Nine months after first being interviewed by police, Rolf Harris walked into a police station to be charged with 13 offences.
He faces six counts of indecent assault between 1980 and 1981 relating to a girl aged between 15 and16 and three counts involving a 14 year old girl in 1986.
Mr Harris also faces four charges of making indecent images of a child between March and July last year.
If he is found guilty of the indecent assault charges of the early 80s and the indecent images charges, Mr Harris faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years' jail for each count. He faces a maximum 10 year sentence for each of the 1986 indecent assault charges.
Rolf Harris is the highest profile celebrity to be charged after investigations from Operation Yewtree.
That was set up in the wake of child sexual abuse allegations against the late BBC entertainer Jimmy Savile, but the investigations regarding Rolf Harris are unrelated to Savile's activities.
Of the 14 people arrested under Operation Yewtree, Mr Harris is the fourth to be charged. Most of the allegations that were made in the wake of the Savile scandal are historical, sometimes decades old, and many relate to celebrities.
Criminal solicitor Julian Young says fame is a complication in court.
JULIAN YOUNG: Fame is possibly a problem from both the defence point of view and the prosecutor's point of view. The prosecutor's point of view, or police point of view, because of course people see this plastered in the newspapers and may wish wrongly to join in the bandwagon.
For the defence point of view of course fame is, well, what was happening in the BBC or ITV or whichever company it was that was making the program, what was the sexual morality of the day? It is a problem from both points of view
Rolf Harris has made two appearances on stage in the past few months since his name was publicly linked to the investigations and each time he's briefly thanked fans for their support.
He will face court in late September when police say a trial date could be set.
This is Mary Gearin in London for AM.
No comments:
Post a Comment