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Michael Le Vell: 'I cannot explain rape allegation. I'm like a lost soul' Michael Le Vell: 'I cannot explain rape allegation. I'm like a lost soul'
(12 days later)
The Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell gave evidence at his trial for rape and other sex charges on Thursday and said: "I'm fighting for my life."The Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell gave evidence at his trial for rape and other sex charges on Thursday and said: "I'm fighting for my life."
Le Vell, 48, who plays car mechanic Kevin Webster in the ITV soap, also described himself as "a lost soul" struggling to understand why a young girl had come forward with allegations that he had attacked her over a number of years.Le Vell, 48, who plays car mechanic Kevin Webster in the ITV soap, also described himself as "a lost soul" struggling to understand why a young girl had come forward with allegations that he had attacked her over a number of years.
According to the prosecution at Manchester crown court, he once raped the girl as she clutched one of her teddy bears while he held another over her mouth.According to the prosecution at Manchester crown court, he once raped the girl as she clutched one of her teddy bears while he held another over her mouth.
He allegedly told her: "It's OK, just keep calm, stay asleep … I'm going to get rid of the evil."He allegedly told her: "It's OK, just keep calm, stay asleep … I'm going to get rid of the evil."
Le Vell denies five counts of rape, three of indecent assault and two each of sexual activity with a child ,and causing a child to engage in such activity.Le Vell denies five counts of rape, three of indecent assault and two each of sexual activity with a child ,and causing a child to engage in such activity.
On Thursday the press and public galleries of court 3 were packed as the actor walked the dozen or so paces from the dock to the witness box for his two-hour appearance.On Thursday the press and public galleries of court 3 were packed as the actor walked the dozen or so paces from the dock to the witness box for his two-hour appearance.
Hands clasped behind his back, he began by answering a series of stark questions from his barrister, Alisdair Williamson.Hands clasped behind his back, he began by answering a series of stark questions from his barrister, Alisdair Williamson.
Had he ever got into bed with Miss X, the complainant. "No, no," replied Le Vell. "Never – not got into bed".Had he ever got into bed with Miss X, the complainant. "No, no," replied Le Vell. "Never – not got into bed".
Had he raped or otherwise sexually assaulted her? asked Williamson. "No, I promise you. Never. Never in a million years would I do that".Had he raped or otherwise sexually assaulted her? asked Williamson. "No, I promise you. Never. Never in a million years would I do that".
Williamson: "How do you feel about all of this?"Williamson: "How do you feel about all of this?"
Le Vell: "I'm devastated, I'm lost. I don't understand where it's come from.Le Vell: "I'm devastated, I'm lost. I don't understand where it's come from.
"I'm like a lost soul … I still want to get to the bottom of why this has happened and why it's happened to me.""I'm like a lost soul … I still want to get to the bottom of why this has happened and why it's happened to me."
Eleanor Laws QC, prosecuting, suggested that while his alleged victim's mother was giving evidence he had been laughing and sneering at her. "You have your demons, don't you, when you've had a drink? You're not your screen character then, in any way?"Eleanor Laws QC, prosecuting, suggested that while his alleged victim's mother was giving evidence he had been laughing and sneering at her. "You have your demons, don't you, when you've had a drink? You're not your screen character then, in any way?"
Laws said if the allegations against him were inventions dreamed up at a time when the girl felt vindictive towards him, she had had numerous opportunities to withdraw those allegations, but had not done so.Laws said if the allegations against him were inventions dreamed up at a time when the girl felt vindictive towards him, she had had numerous opportunities to withdraw those allegations, but had not done so.
Instead, she had maintained them initially "in the face of her mother's utter devastation" at being told, and then later in seeing her GP, being interviewed by the police, and being given an "extremely intimate" examination by medical staff.Instead, she had maintained them initially "in the face of her mother's utter devastation" at being told, and then later in seeing her GP, being interviewed by the police, and being given an "extremely intimate" examination by medical staff.
Laws told the actor that if he were to be believed, Miss X "had her legs spread open and was examined because she's a wicked liar".Laws told the actor that if he were to be believed, Miss X "had her legs spread open and was examined because she's a wicked liar".
"And she continued and continued and continued until the jury saw her performance the other day. You didn't see her because she was screened off, but it was a pretty good performance, don't you think, if she was lying? Almost Oscar-winning"."And she continued and continued and continued until the jury saw her performance the other day. You didn't see her because she was screened off, but it was a pretty good performance, don't you think, if she was lying? Almost Oscar-winning".
Le Vell replied: "I don't know what you mean by Oscar winning". He then added: "Like you say, I couldn't see her".Le Vell replied: "I don't know what you mean by Oscar winning". He then added: "Like you say, I couldn't see her".
Laws said: "The thing is, you just don't know why [she made the allegations]. Unless, of course, it's quite simply that you did these things and she is simply telling the truth."Laws said: "The thing is, you just don't know why [she made the allegations]. Unless, of course, it's quite simply that you did these things and she is simply telling the truth."
Le Vell: "I don't agree with it at all."Le Vell: "I don't agree with it at all."
Earlier on Thursday the court heard how Le Vell was arrested on 30 September 2011 and taken to the police custody suite at Manchester airport. Once there he was interviewed by the officer who arrested him, Detective Constable Neil Rothwell.Earlier on Thursday the court heard how Le Vell was arrested on 30 September 2011 and taken to the police custody suite at Manchester airport. Once there he was interviewed by the officer who arrested him, Detective Constable Neil Rothwell.
During the interview Le Vell said he had once lain upon a bed in which his alleged victim was sleeping. But he insisted he had done so after becoming disoriented through drink. "It was innocent," he told Rothwell.During the interview Le Vell said he had once lain upon a bed in which his alleged victim was sleeping. But he insisted he had done so after becoming disoriented through drink. "It was innocent," he told Rothwell.
Rothwell asked: "Did you touch X?"Rothwell asked: "Did you touch X?"
Le Vell: "No."Le Vell: "No."
Rothwell: "Did you put your arm around her?"Rothwell: "Did you put your arm around her?"
Le Vell: "No, and if I did I wasn't under the sheets. It wasn't anything sexual."Le Vell: "No, and if I did I wasn't under the sheets. It wasn't anything sexual."
Le Vell's cross-examination is due to resume on Friday.Le Vell's cross-examination is due to resume on Friday.
The trial continues.The trial continues.
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