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Jury expected to retire in Jarratt trial

The jury in actor John Jarratt's rape trial is expected to retire on Friday to consider its verdict.

John Jarratt arrives at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Thursday.
John Jarratt arrives at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Thursday. Source: AAP

The judge in actor John Jarratt's rape trial is expected to give their final directions to the jury, which will likely retire on Friday.

The 66-year-old Wolf Creek star has pleaded not guilty in the NSW District Court to raping a woman in 1976 at the Sydney house they shared with his wife, Rosa Miano, and at least one other person.

The woman, who went to police in 2017, has testified she was woken about 3am when Jarratt ripped off her bed covers and underwear, unzipped his fly, pinned her down, covered her mouth with his hand and raped her.

Jarratt on Thursday told the jury he was seduced into having consensual sex with the woman.

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Under cross-examination from prosecutor John Bowers, Jarratt agreed he had not used the word "seduction" in the detailed statement he read to police in 2018.

The actor denied deliberately changing his account of how the sexual intercourse came about.

John Jarratt on set.
John Jarratt on the set of one of his most famous roles in the Wolf Creek franchise. Source: AAP

Mr Bowers said it did not happen as a result of any seduction initiated by the woman, but because Jarratt forced himself on her after going into her room with no warning, when she was asleep, ripping her clothes off and pinning her down.

"I didn't rape her. What you are describing is fantasy to me," Jarratt said.

The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict on Friday.


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