JARRATT FOUND NOT GUILTY OF RAPING HOUSEMATE
ACTOR John Jarratt has been found not guilty of raping his housemate more than 40 years ago.
The Wolf Creek star had testified before the NSW District Court jury he was seduced into having consensual sex with the woman in 1976 at the Sydney house they shared with his wife, Rosa Miano, and at least one other person. The woman told the court she was woken about 3am by Jarratt ripping off her bed covers and underwear before he pinned her down, covered her mouth with his hand and raped her.
But the jury took less than two hours to return the unanimous verdict yesterday afternoon. As the verdict was announced, Jarratt, 66, lifted his arms in elation and his family burst into tears.
“Thank you,” he said as he left the dock.
The actor maintained his innocence from the moment he was charged in August 2018. “No man should have to go through what I have gone through,” Jarratt told reporters outside court as he hugged his wife. LABOR leader Anthony Albanese is unfazed by union boss John Setka launching a court challenge to stop his expulsion from the party.
Mr Albanese said the Victorian construction official was never going quietly. “He was always going to take legal action,” he told the Nine Network yesterday. “Guess what, he will try to stop it, but he won’t be successful.” Mr Setka faces expulsion from the Labor Party over allegations he made disparaging remarks about anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty.
Mr Setka has been given until July 15 to prepare his case.