On January 9, Rolf Harris came before a London court to face a total of seven charges involving allegations made by seven women over a 33-year period from 1971.
Now at the end of the trial, Harris has been found not guilty on two counts of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.
After more than 26 hours of deliberation, the jury of seven women and five men proved divided – failing to reach verdicts on the remaining four counts.
Prosecutors now have one week to decide whether they will request a retrial on the undecided counts.
Among the charges on which the 86-year-old has been found not guilty, include the alleged indecent assaults of a blind and disabled woman in 1977 as well as the alleged groping of a woman in her early teens as she requested an autograph from the children’s entertainer outside a radio station in the same year.
Another charge alleged that Harris grabbed the breasts of a 40-year-old while attending a “wrap party” for a BBC television show.
The unresolved counts against Harris allege that he indecently assaulted four teenage girls on separate occasions between 1971 and 2002.
Harris arrives at Southwark Crown Court to face sentencing on 12 previous counts of indecent assault on July 4, 2014.
Harris was once a celebrated artist, singer and television host.
Family lawyer Daniel Berke gave a brief statement on behalf of Harris outside the court after the verdict. He said, “Mr Harris is grateful for the care and attention this jury has given to his case and the not guilty verdicts returned.”
“Given the uncertainty as to what will happen no further comment can be made.”
Harris will now return to Stafford Prison where he is currently serving a sentence of five years and nine months for 12 counts of indecently assaulting four women and girls, including one just eight years old.
He is due to be released on parole from the minimum-security prison, in rural England, in May or June.
Prior to his convictions, the Australian-native cemented himself in the UK entertainment industry as a singer (“Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport” was perhaps his biggest hit), artist and TV host.
He also rose to fame after being commissioned to paint Queen Elizabeth 11’s portrait for her 80th birthday, over 10 years ago.
