Rolf Harris To Stand Trial Next April On Assault Charges

Rolf Harris To Stand Trial In April
Veteran entertainer Rolf Harris arrives at Westminster Magistrate's Court in London, Monday, Sept. 23, 2013. Harris faces nine counts of indecent assault on victims aged 14 and 15 and four counts of making indecent images. Harris, 83, has had musical hits, hosted television shows, painted an official portrait of the queen for her 80th birthday in 2006, and performed at the monarch's Diamond Jubilee concert last year. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Veteran entertainer Rolf Harris arrives at Westminster Magistrate's Court in London, Monday, Sept. 23, 2013. Harris faces nine counts of indecent assault on victims aged 14 and 15 and four counts of making indecent images. Harris, 83, has had musical hits, hosted television shows, painted an official portrait of the queen for her 80th birthday in 2006, and performed at the monarch's Diamond Jubilee concert last year. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
AP

Rolf Harris is to stand trial next April on charges of indecent assaulting young girls.

The 83-year-old faces nine counts of indecent assault and four of making indecent images of a child.

Harris was excused from attending today's preliminary hearing before Mr Justice Nicol at the Old Bailey in London.

A plea hearing at Southwark Crown Court was provisionally set for January 14.

Harris's trial will start on April 30.

At Westminster Magistrates' Court last month his lawyer indicated he will plead not guilty to the allegations.

The Australian artist, musician and television presenter is accused of assaulting two alleged victims, who were aged 14 and 15 at the time, between 1980 and 1986.

Harris was released on bail on the conditions that he does not contact prosecution witnesses, lives at his home address in Bray, Berkshire, and does not spend time with anyone under the age of 18 without being accompanied by someone over 21.

He was arrested by officers working on Operation Yewtree, the national investigation launched after abuse claims were made against Jimmy Savile, but the allegations against him have no connection to Savile.

The charges against him are:

:: Six counts of indecent assault relating to a girl aged between 15 and 16, from 1980 to 1981;

:: Three offences of indecent assault relating to a girl aged 14, in 1986;

:: Four offences of making indecent images of a child between March and July 2012.

Harris, who painted a portrait of the Queen in 2005 and performed at her Diamond Jubilee concert last year, has been in the public eye for decades.

He had his first musical hit Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport in 1960 and continued to enjoy success in the industry as well as forging a television career.

Harris, who has lived in Bray for more than 50 years, has also received a number of honours and was made Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours last year.

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