Harris faces jail for indecent assaults

Jurors in the Rolf Harris trial have found him guilty on all 12 counts of indecent assault.

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A jury of six men and six women found Rolf Harris guilty on all 12 counts of indecent assault against four female complainants, aged from seven or eight to 19, between 1968 and 1986.

Seven of the counts relate to a friend of his daughter, who claims Harris assaulted her over several years, dating back to when she was 13.

The 84-year-old has denied the charges but now faces up to 10 years in jail following the guilty verdicts.

The verdict brings to a close a six-week trial at a London court.

In his summing up of the case, judge Nigel Sweeney told jurors they must come to unanimous conclusions on each separate count.

"Neither media nor Internet nor speculation nor emotion of any type can have any part whatsoever to play in your deliberations," the judge said.

Harris 'pretty good' at hiding dark side:



He said they should try to "see the wood for the trees and to recognise a red herring when you see one and ignore it".

Sweeney also reminded jurors that Harris was the "recipient of a number of honours" and had "no criminal convictions or cautions recorded against him".

He also recounted how Harris moved to Britain in 1952, became a well-known popular entertainer and sang chart hits like "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport".

Rolf Harris has been released on bail ahead of his sentencing on Friday. 


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Source: AFP

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Harris faces jail for indecent assaults | SBS News