Rolf Harris’s daughter Bindi has lied about her father’s sexual relationship with one of her childhood friends in order to support him in court, it’s been alleged in London.
Prosecutor Sasha Wass QC made the accusation during a heated exchange with the veteran entertainer during his child sex abuse trial at Southwark Crown Court.
The main complainant in the case claims Harris first abused her when she was 13 and joined the family on an overseas trip in 1978.
The 84-year-old admits a 10-year relationship with Bindi’s friend but insists it was consensual and started when she was an adult.
Harris on Wednesday said he thought the alleged victim told Bindi about their affair while he was away in Australia.
“When I came back she had smashed a couple of paintings that I had given her, she was furious,” he said.
The alleged victim claims she told Bindi in 1996 she’d been sexually abused by her father from the age of 13.
Ms Wass argued that version was backed up by Bindi’s then partner Malcolm Cox who was present when the all-night discussion is said to have taken place.
The prosecutor then told the jury that Bindi was now going to come to court and say her father had a consensual affair with her friend, despite what the other witnesses had said.
“I want to know if you have put her up to that,” Ms Wass asked Harris on Wednesday.
The entertainer replied in a soft voice: “No, no discussions at all.”
The prosecutor went on to comment on the fact Harris walked slowly into court every day with Bindi on one arm and his wife Alwen on the other.
At the end of proceedings the family gets into the same car together outside the beige-brick building.
Asked if they actually travel home together Harris answered “No”, prompting Ms Wass to ask: “So it’s just for the cameras is it? Coming in with them?”
“It’s to show support,” he replied.
Ms Wass then alleged Bindi had shown her support “by telling lies”.
That prompted an objection from defence lawyer Sonia Woodley QC who accused the prosecutor of getting “carried away”.
Earlier, Ms Wass put it to Harris that he wanted his daughter’s support.
“I assumed I would have her support,” he replied.
The barrister also quizzed Harris on whether he’d paid the legal fees for his daughter and wife who had lawyers representing them when they were interviewed by police.
The celebrity insisted he had “no idea” who paid but acknowledged “it may have been arranged through my accountant”.
The man who gave the world the wobble board is charged with indecently assaulting four girls in the UK between 1968 and 1986. He denies all 12 counts.
It’s expected Bindi will be called as a defence witness in the next few days.
The trial continues.
