Wolf Creek actor John Jarratt charged over alleged 1976 rape
AUSTRALIAN actor John Jarratt has been charged with sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman in a share house more than 40 years ago. The Wolf Creek star “utterly denied” the allegation.
NSW
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AUSTRALIAN star John Jarratt has been charged with sexually assaulting a young woman more than 40 years ago in Sydney’s east.
The 66-year-old, with an acting career spanning four decades, plans to defend the charge, with his high-profile lawyer Chris Murphy labelling the allegation factually incorrect.
Police allege Jarratt, whose most recognised role was as serial killer Mick Taylor in the 2005 movie Wolf Creek, sexually assaulted an 18-year-old woman in a share house 42 years ago.
The assault allegedly took place in Randwick in September, 1976, when both Jarratt and the woman were working in the entertainment industry.
The woman, who used to work at The Sydney Opera House, went to police on the South Coast late last year to make the allegation.
Eastern Beaches Police Area District investigators took over the case and on Friday served a future court attendance notice for one count of rape on Jarratt, via his lawyers.
The former Better Homes and Gardens presenter is due to appear at Waverley Local Court on October 10.
It is understood Jarratt has co-operated with the police investigation with both him and his wife providing detailed statements.
Mr Murphy said the allegation was “utterly denied”.
“I would pursue any avenue to put this in a court tomorrow so the man can get on with the rest of his life,” he said.
“With the elimination of committals and long court delays it may take a year to resolve it.”
His agency, Ignite Elite Artists, did not respond to calls today.
Jarratt is a household name in the Australian entertainment industry, having starred in Picnic at Hanging Rock, Australia alongside Hugh Jackman and Little Boy Lost.
He has also landed roles in soap box favourites including McLeod’s Daughters, Blue Heelers and A Country Practice.
The allegations came in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, which sparked an outpouring of sexual harassment claims against entertainment industry figures around the world and spurred the powerful metoo movement.
Media identity Tracey Spicer has been a driving force behind the movement in Australia after inviting woman to come forward with their stories of harassment in the media industry.