Jury in Bill Roache trial retires to consider verdicts
The jury in the trial of Coronation Street actor William Roache has retired to consider its verdicts. Roache denies two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault.
- ITV News Correspondent Damon Green
Alleged Roache victim: 'Rape happened in silence'
The 62 year old woman who has accused Coronation Street star Bill Roache of raping her as a 15-year-old girl has told the court the alleged assault took place in complete silence.
Cross examined by defence barrister Louise Blackwell QC, the woman said that she was "speechless and shocked" throughout the alleged attack, which the court heard took place in 1967, at Roache's home in the Lancashire village of Haslingden.
"I was shocked - all I wanted to do was get away," she said.
"You just lay there and said nothing?" Ms Blackwell asked. "Yes, I was speechless."
"He didn't speak either," she added.
The woman told the court that she went to school the next day as normal, and told nobody what had happened - not even her best friend.
When asked why, she said: "I was humiliated, disgusted and ashamed. I was so shocked I couldn't say a word to anyone."
81-year-old William Roache denies two charges of rape and five charges of indecent assault. The case continues.
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Coronation Street stars defend 'gentleman' Bill Roache
Coronation Street actor Bill Roache has been defended by some of his co-stars at his trial at Preston Crown Court.
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Bill Roache says he had 'no interest in gratuitous sex'
On his first day of evidence, actor Bill Roache denied all of the allegations against him insisting he had no interest in 'gratuitous sex'
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Alleged Roache victim: 'I blamed myself...I was a kid'
A woman has told the trial of Coronation Street's Bill Roache that the actor raped her on two occasions when she was 15 years old in 1967.