Guilty of indecent assault, TV star Harris could be jailed
Veteran entertainer Rolf Harris, a household name in Britain since the 1960s, could face prison after his conviction on Monday on 12 counts of indecently assaulting girls.
Australian-born Harris,84-a TV presenter, artist and performer of amusing songs like "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport"-was found guilty of all the charges against him after a six-week trial.
A London court found him guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault of four girls and young women aged from seven to 19 between 1968 and 1986, including his daughter Bindi's childhood best friend.
Harris' conviction represents a spectacular fall from grace for one of Britain's best-loved entertainers.
Prosecutor Jenny Hopkins said Harris' victims all reported a similar pattern of abuse by a man who believed he could act without fear of consequences.
"Rolf Harris used his status and position as a world-famous children's entertainer to sexually assault young girls over a period spanning 18 years," she said, adding that the victims had "suffered in silence" for decades.
The prosecution described Harris as having a "Jekyll and Hyde" personality divided between a generous, kind side and a dark side that believed he could get away with sex crimes against young girls because he was too famous and powerful to be brought to justice.
During the trial, six witnesses who were not part of the criminal case testified that Harris had assaulted them. One said she was 11 or 12 when Harris told her he wanted to be the first person to teach her how to tongue kiss.
Known for his catchphrase "Can you tell what it is yet?" he painted Queen Elizabeth II on her 80th birthday, hosted popular BBC television show "Animal Hospital" and performed at the Glastonbury music festival.
He is one of several veteran entertainers in the U.K.to face sex charges since TV host Jimmy Savile was exposed as a serial pedophile after his death in 2011.
In his native Australia, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he was "gutted and dismayed" by Harris' conviction as the entertainer's hometown moved to purge his memory.
AFP - AP
(China Daily 07/02/2014 page12)
