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Langham witness 'misled jurors' | Langham witness 'misled jurors' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A key witness in the indecent assault trial of comedy actor Chris Langham has been recalled to court after his evidence was disputed. | A key witness in the indecent assault trial of comedy actor Chris Langham has been recalled to court after his evidence was disputed. |
Fellow actor James Urquhart denied a prosecution claim that he had misled Maidstone Crown Court about how well he knew the alleged victim. | Fellow actor James Urquhart denied a prosecution claim that he had misled Maidstone Crown Court about how well he knew the alleged victim. |
Mr Langham, 58, from Kent, denies indecent assault and a serious sexual offence on a girl under 18. | Mr Langham, 58, from Kent, denies indecent assault and a serious sexual offence on a girl under 18. |
He also denies 15 counts of making an indecent image of a child in 2005. | He also denies 15 counts of making an indecent image of a child in 2005. |
Mr Urquhart, who uses the stage name Jeff Leyton, played the lead role in Les Miserables at London's Palace theatre 11 years ago while Mr Langham was appearing in the show. | Mr Urquhart, who uses the stage name Jeff Leyton, played the lead role in Les Miserables at London's Palace theatre 11 years ago while Mr Langham was appearing in the show. |
Witness room | Witness room |
Mr Langham's dressing room is said by the alleged victim, now aged 25, to have been the scene of numerous sexual encounters between them. | Mr Langham's dressing room is said by the alleged victim, now aged 25, to have been the scene of numerous sexual encounters between them. |
Mr Urquhart told Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday he had only seen the woman at the theatre about three times. | Mr Urquhart told Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday he had only seen the woman at the theatre about three times. |
But on Friday, the jury was told that Victim Support volunteer Sheila Rimmer went to the police after seeing her with Mr Urquhart in the witness room at the court. | But on Friday, the jury was told that Victim Support volunteer Sheila Rimmer went to the police after seeing her with Mr Urquhart in the witness room at the court. |
"She let out an exclamation and ran into this man's arms and she gave him a big, big hug," she said. | "She let out an exclamation and ran into this man's arms and she gave him a big, big hug," she said. |
"He was stroking her hand and patting her shoulder. It was very warm. He was consoling her very warmly and emotionally. | "He was stroking her hand and patting her shoulder. It was very warm. He was consoling her very warmly and emotionally. |
"It appeared to me that it was a reunion of two people who liked each other a lot, after a long time." | "It appeared to me that it was a reunion of two people who liked each other a lot, after a long time." |
Mr Urquhart denied prosecutor Richard Barraclough's accusation that he had tried to mislead the jury. | Mr Urquhart denied prosecutor Richard Barraclough's accusation that he had tried to mislead the jury. |
"She was crying on my shoulder," he said, admitting consoling her. "That's in my nature." | "She was crying on my shoulder," he said, admitting consoling her. "That's in my nature." |
Comedy writer and actor Paul Whitehouse is due to appear as a prosecution witness when the trial resumes on Monday. | |
Mr Whitehouse appeared in the comedy drama Help, playing different patients seen by a psychotherapist played by Mr Langham. |
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