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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Stuart Hall rape trial: Broadcaster not giving evidence | Stuart Hall rape trial: Broadcaster not giving evidence |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Broadcaster Stuart Hall will not give evidence from the witness box in defence of sex assault allegations, a jury has been told. | Broadcaster Stuart Hall will not give evidence from the witness box in defence of sex assault allegations, a jury has been told. |
| Mr Hall is on trial at Preston Crown Court for 20 historical charges of rape and indecent assault against two girls. | Mr Hall is on trial at Preston Crown Court for 20 historical charges of rape and indecent assault against two girls. |
| He denies all of the charges alleged to have happened between 1976 to 1981. | He denies all of the charges alleged to have happened between 1976 to 1981. |
| The complainants came forward after the 84-year-old was jailed last year for a string of historical indecent assaults against 13 girls. | The complainants came forward after the 84-year-old was jailed last year for a string of historical indecent assaults against 13 girls. |
| 'Surprised by allegations' | 'Surprised by allegations' |
| It is said the former It's A Knockout presenter groomed his victims and plied them with alcohol before he raped them. | It is said the former It's A Knockout presenter groomed his victims and plied them with alcohol before he raped them. |
| A statement made to the police by the ex-BBC presenter when he was confronted with fresh sex assault allegations in October was read to the jury. | A statement made to the police by the ex-BBC presenter when he was confronted with fresh sex assault allegations in October was read to the jury. |
| In it Mr Hall said he was "surprised" by the allegations by the two women who he had known for a number of years, the court heard. | In it Mr Hall said he was "surprised" by the allegations by the two women who he had known for a number of years, the court heard. |
| "I am concerned that they have been made only after I pleaded guilty to a number of offences and then was sentenced to a term of imprisonment." | "I am concerned that they have been made only after I pleaded guilty to a number of offences and then was sentenced to a term of imprisonment." |
| He said one of the accusers, known only as Girl B, had "offered her support" when he previously went on trial for 14 historical offences of indecent assault last year. | |
| The jury heard he also said his health was "deteriorating" in the statement made to police prior to being charged. | The jury heard he also said his health was "deteriorating" in the statement made to police prior to being charged. |
| The first alleged victim, identified as Girl A, told the jury she was raped at BBC premises at Oxford Road and Piccadilly, both in Manchester. | |
| Girl A, now 52, told the court Mr Hall would sometimes give her money after raping her and then drive her home in his gold Rolls Royce. | |
| Girl B told the court she was first attacked by Mr Hall when she was 12 at stables in the mid-1970s. | Girl B told the court she was first attacked by Mr Hall when she was 12 at stables in the mid-1970s. |
| 'Consensual sex' | 'Consensual sex' |
| She also told the court the defendant went on to rape her when she was aged 14 or 15 in his BBC dressing rooms at both Piccadilly and Oxford Road. | She also told the court the defendant went on to rape her when she was aged 14 or 15 in his BBC dressing rooms at both Piccadilly and Oxford Road. |
| The broadcaster said the rape at the stables did not take place while other sexual contact was consensual. | The broadcaster said the rape at the stables did not take place while other sexual contact was consensual. |
| He admitted a charge of indecently assaulting her when she was 13 between January 1978 and January 1979 which was put to him before the latest trial started. | He admitted a charge of indecently assaulting her when she was 13 between January 1978 and January 1979 which was put to him before the latest trial started. |
| A psychologist, instructed by the defence, said it was possible that Girl B's memory of being raped in the stables was "confabulated". | |
| The court heard Girl B told a therapist that she had a "recurring dream" about the alleged rape but said it was a memory of an incident that she knew had happened. | |
| Dr Ian Anderson told the court therapy or dreams could produce false memories. | |
| "The person who has the memory has a honest belief that it is true," he said. | |
| 'Nothing in her demeanour' | |
| However, Dr Anderson agreed with Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, that it was also possible that the recurring dream was "a product" of the trauma of being raped. | |
| The jury heard a statement from a production secretary who worked at the BBC in Manchester with Mr Hall at the time the offences were alleged to have taken place. | |
| Jean Tetlow said she had never seen anything inappropriate in his dressing rooms at Piccadilly or Oxford Road. | |
| She said she did not recall seeing Girl A but did remember being introduced to Girl B at Oxford Road but stated "there was nothing in her demeanour or attitude to indicate there was anything untoward happening with her and Stuart". | |
| Last year, Mr Hall was jailed for 15 months for 14 offences of indecent assault. | Last year, Mr Hall was jailed for 15 months for 14 offences of indecent assault. |
| His sentence was later extended to 30 months, at the Court of Appeal. | His sentence was later extended to 30 months, at the Court of Appeal. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |