This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38828332
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Rolf Harris 'vulnerable' to false claims after conviction | Rolf Harris 'vulnerable' to false claims after conviction |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A "media frenzy" has made Rolf Harris vulnerable to false accusations of indecent assault, his lawyer has told the former entertainer's trial. | A "media frenzy" has made Rolf Harris vulnerable to false accusations of indecent assault, his lawyer has told the former entertainer's trial. |
| Stephen Vullo QC said a 2014 jury which had convicted Mr Harris of a number of indecent assaults had "got it wrong". | Stephen Vullo QC said a 2014 jury which had convicted Mr Harris of a number of indecent assaults had "got it wrong". |
| This made him "vulnerable to people making accusations against him", Mr Vullo told Southwark Crown Court. | This made him "vulnerable to people making accusations against him", Mr Vullo told Southwark Crown Court. |
| Mr Harris denies six indecent assaults and one sexual assault on victims aged 12-42, from 1971 to 2004. | |
| The 86-year-old is currently serving a prison sentence for indecent assault on four females. | The 86-year-old is currently serving a prison sentence for indecent assault on four females. |
| 'Fall from grace' | 'Fall from grace' |
| Closing the defence case, Mr Vullo said: "It's difficult to imagine a harder or faster or deeper fall from grace than that suffered by Rolf Harris." | Closing the defence case, Mr Vullo said: "It's difficult to imagine a harder or faster or deeper fall from grace than that suffered by Rolf Harris." |
| The defence team has repeated Mr Harris's claims of innocence in relation to the earlier conviction. | The defence team has repeated Mr Harris's claims of innocence in relation to the earlier conviction. |
| Mr Vullo added: "The media frenzy has without doubt made him vulnerable to people making accusations against him. There is no doubt about that." | Mr Vullo added: "The media frenzy has without doubt made him vulnerable to people making accusations against him. There is no doubt about that." |
| But each charge against Mr Harris "falls far below" the required standard to convict him, argued Mr Vullo, adding: "We say enough is enough." | But each charge against Mr Harris "falls far below" the required standard to convict him, argued Mr Vullo, adding: "We say enough is enough." |
| Until last week Mr Harris had followed the trial via a video-link from prison, but he sat in the dock for the hearing on Wednesday. | Until last week Mr Harris had followed the trial via a video-link from prison, but he sat in the dock for the hearing on Wednesday. |
| In the prosecution closing speech on Tuesday, Jonathan Rees QC said: "It is striking that so many of the allegations involve Mr Harris getting away with a sly, quick grope right under the noses of people who did not notice. | In the prosecution closing speech on Tuesday, Jonathan Rees QC said: "It is striking that so many of the allegations involve Mr Harris getting away with a sly, quick grope right under the noses of people who did not notice. |
| "We suggest that Mr Harris was very good at getting away with it." | "We suggest that Mr Harris was very good at getting away with it." |
| He argued that the previous conviction showed that Mr Harris "has a propensity and appetite for indecently assaulting females". | He argued that the previous conviction showed that Mr Harris "has a propensity and appetite for indecently assaulting females". |