Sunday Mail (UK)

Shamed Harris in bid for freedom

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Disgraced star Rolf Harris is preparing to go back to court in December in a new bid to convince a judge he should be free.

The 86-year-old will claim his conviction­s for historic sex offences should be quashed and has alleged new investigat­ors working for him have uncovered vital new evidence.

He will also attempt to have eight new charges – for which he is due to face trial in January – thrown out at the same hearing at Southwark Crown Court on December 15.

A source close to the shamed entertaine­r and artist said: “This really will be D-Day.

“Rolf has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds preparing this appeal and despite everything, he still maintains his innocence.

“He believes his legal team have now uncovered new evidence to have his previous conviction­s re-opened and overturned.

“And he says that the new private investigat­ors he hired since his last trial have now found new witnesses to help prove his innocence.

“Rolf knows it’s his last chance of clearing his name. He’s pinning all his hopes on it.”

If the appeal is not successful, Harris will go on trial next year accused of seven indecent assaults and one sexual assault between 1971 and 2004.

The charges relate to seven women – three of whom were under 16 at the time of the alleged offences.

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APPEAL Harris

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