Australian entertainer and ARIA Hall Of Fame inductee Rolf Harris is facing three new sex assault charges, including one for the alleged indecent assault of a girl aged “seven or eight.” The news follows court appearances from the 83-year-old entertainer taking place in September and October.
Harris previously faced 13 charges, including six charges relating to the indecent assault of a 15-year-old girl and three charges relating to the indecent assault of a 14-year-old girl in the 1980s. The Age now reports that prosecutors have added three new charges of indecent assault.
The new charges relate to three alleged incidents, one occurring in 1968 or 1969 with a girl aged seven or eight, one aged 14 in 1975, and an incident with a 19-year-old girl in 1984. The Crown Prosecution Service said the offences relate to one existing complaint and two newly filed.
According to The Age, a spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service told the BBC:
“These three allegations were included in the file sent to the CPS by the Metropolitan Police in August of this year; however, as part of the ongoing review process for all cases, it has been decided that these allegations should be formally added to the indictment as further counts.”
“Evidence relating to these further counts has already been served on the court and the defence, so it is not necessary for Mr. Harris to appear again at magistrates’ court.”
Harris will stand trial on 30th April next year, with his lawyer indicating that the entertainer intends to plead not guilty to all charges. Harris is currently on bail, with conditions stipulating that he cannot contact witnesses in the case and cannot come into contact with children without adult supervision.
He is also slated to appear at Southwark Crown Court in London for a plea and case management hearing on 14th January. At a preliminary hearing in October, Harris was excused from attending and wasn’t required to enter a plea. He has so far not commented on the charges against him.
(Via The Age)
