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.
Prosecutor urges jurors to disregard celebrity witnesses
The prosecution has said that if Coronation Street actor Bill Roache is telling the truth then three of the complainants in his case "must be mad".
Anne Whyte QC said: "They have nothing in common. No connection.
"And yet they are all saying something of a broadly similar nature and at a broadly similar point in time."
Ms Whyte also told jurors to disregard celebrity witnesses in this case. "What matters here is ordinary people," she said.
"The task of a jury is never an enviable one. We ask you to approach the task with the same courage that the five complainants have showed", she added.
The trial was adjourned until 10am tomorrow when Louise Blackwell QC will give her closing speech for the defence.
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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.