Actor Craig McLachlan’s lawyer claims co-stars showed ‘slutty’ behaviour: court
Aussie actor Craig McLachlan claims four women accusing him of assault displayed “slutty” behaviour during a run of the Rocky Horror Show.
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Aussie actor Craig McLachlan’s lawyer claims four women accusing the performer of indecent assault displayed “slutty” behaviour during a musical.
The Gold Logie winner is facing 13 charges, including seven counts of indecent assault and six counts of common law assault, against four women during a run of the Rocky Horror Show.
These include claims the former soap star touched a woman’s genitalia over her costume onstage, that he stuck his tongue into one woman’s mouth and that he felt up a woman’s thigh.
The 55-year-old has denied all the allegations.
Photos of the alleged victims in “slutty” positions and a “lesbian pose” were presented in the 160-page written defence submissions, the court was told.
During closing submissions at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, prosecutor Matt Fisher said using this as an “excuse” for McLachlan’s alleged behaviour towards the women was “impermissible in this day and age.
Magistrate Belinda Wallington said the term “sluts” was unfortunate.
“Some of the terms used … are most unfortunate. Phrases like sluts, slutty poses are most unfortunate,” she said.
The court heard that in one case, Mr McLachlan’s lawyer, Stuart Littlemore QC, wrote one of the co-stars adopted a “lesbian pose” in a photograph.
He described another as telling “extraordinary lies”.
Mr Fisher argued the actor used his position of power to assault the women and the “power imbalance” made them feel they were unable to speak up until the show was completed.
“They were concerned what the accused had done to them and concerned about what he might do to others,” the prosecutor said of their reasons to come forward.
Mr Fisher told the court about allegations McLachlan told co-stars he would “end them” and that they “don’t know who you’re dealing with”.
He said this showed the power imbalance between the women and the well-known performer.
Last week Mr McLachlan gave evidence in his defence about the allegations and vehemently denied them.
He even burst into song during the hearing to demonstrate how it was “impossible” for him to have forcibly kissed a co-star onstage.
“If I am late in that … because I fancy a snog, I miss the next lighting cue,” Mr McLachlan said last week after he finished a few lines from the song.
The hearing in front of Ms Wallington continues.
Originally published as Actor Craig McLachlan’s lawyer claims co-stars showed ‘slutty’ behaviour: court