Lawyer says actor, who has been accused of raping woman in 1976, wants case put ‘in the express lane’

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The lawyer representing the actor John Jarratt, who is accused of raping a woman in Sydney in 1976, says his client will maintain a not guilty plea “all the way”.

The 66-year-old did not appear in Sydney’s Downing Centre local court on Tuesday and his matter was adjourned by magistrate Alison Viney until 23 October to set a date for confirmation of future proceedings.

“He’s an actor, his career has been put on suspension pending this allegation,” his lawyer, Bryan Wrench, said. “We’d like to put this case in the express lane to a trial date.

Wolf Creek star John Jarratt charged with raping woman in 1970s Read more

“He will not be entering any pleas of guilty, it will be a not guilty plea all the way.”

Jarratt is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at Randwick, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, in September 1976.

He is best known for his lead role in the movie Wolf Creek and its sequel, having also appeared on the Australian television shows McLeod’s Daughters and Play School.

Jarratt’s alleged victim came forward in December 2017 and he was charged with one count of rape in August.

Wrench said while the upcoming “case conference” is a formality, it will be kept “very short” as the delay is affecting his client.