Craig McLachlan sings during evidence while denying indecent assault allegations - The Age

Actor Craig McLachlan sang part of a song while giving evidence to deny he indecently assaulted women he worked with during a 2014 stage show.

Four women allege Mr McLachlan indecently assaulted them during the Melbourne leg of the show and one of them previously told court the star put his tongue in her mouth during an unscripted kiss in a live show.

Craig McLachlan leaving his lawyer's chambers in Sydney on Monday with his partner Vanessa Scammell.Credit:Rhett Wyman

Mr McLachlan denied using his tongue to kiss the woman and told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday the "brief one-second kiss" on the lips was meant to be part of the show. He said a longer kiss would have thrown the timing of the scene out and, to illustrate his point about the tempo, he sang lines from the song while clicking his fingers.

"If I am late in that scene because I fancy a snog, I miss the next lighting cue," he told his barrister, Stuart Littlemore, QC.

The charges against Mr McLachlan also include an allegation he touched one woman near her genital area during a live performance and that he also exposed himself while in a dressing room to another.

The Gold Logie winner, famous for his roles in Neighbours, Home and Away and The Doctor Blake Mysteries, has pleaded not guilty to six counts of indecent assault and seven of common law assault.

The 55-year-old gave evidence remotely from a Sydney office as magistrate Belinda Wallington watched the link from a Melbourne court.

Mr McLachlan said the kiss on stage was part of the show in three quarters of the 200 performances he did. He said the woman was an understudy in the show, but had never complained to him about the kiss in the performances they did together.

She previously told the court that after the kiss she confronted Mr McLachlan offstage and he told her if she spoke like that again, "I will end you." But Mr McLachlan on Wednesday denied ever using the expression or that the confrontation took place.

He also denied an allegation by the same woman that he exposed himself to her in a dressing room.

"Not a word of truth in that," he said.

Mr McLachlan denied allegations made by the woman and another actor that he clapped "angrily" in the face of one of them after a show. "They are lying," he said.

He also denied an allegation he forcefully put a hand on one woman's face during a scene.

"I didn't do it, I wouldn't do it, it's totally unprofessional," he said.

Mr McLachlan has also rejected allegations he indecently assaulted the two other women. On Monday he told the court he kissed one woman during a backstage conversation but said the gesture was consensual and usual practice between the pair. He denied running his hand up the other woman's leg while she was on stage.

He has also denied touching one woman near her genitals during a live show, when he was hidden from the audience but she wasn't.

Mr McLachlan has said he was stunned by the allegations and first learnt of them when they were reported in the media at the start of 2018.

On Wednesday, he told the court he often "camped it up" when backstage with castmates and told them he loved them or complimented them on their appearance. But he said he always did so in a joking fashion and there was never a sexual intention to his comments or gestures.

"I like being the fun, funny Craig at work ... I won't apologise for who I am," he said.

Mr McLachlan will continue giving evidence on Wednesday.

Ms Wallington will deliver her verdict after hearing all the evidence and closing submissions by lawyers.

If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiiAFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVhZ2UuY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL2NyYWlnLW1jbGFjaGxhbi1zaW5ncy1kdXJpbmctZXZpZGVuY2Utd2hpbGUtZGVueWluZy1pbmRlY2VudC1hc3NhdWx0LWFsbGVnYXRpb25zLTIwMjAxMTA0LXA1NmJnYi5odG1s0gGIAWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLnRoZWFnZS5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvY3JhaWctbWNsYWNobGFuLXNpbmdzLWR1cmluZy1ldmlkZW5jZS13aGlsZS1kZW55aW5nLWluZGVjZW50LWFzc2F1bHQtYWxsZWdhdGlvbnMtMjAyMDExMDQtcDU2YmdiLmh0bWw?oc=5

2020-11-04 03:03:00Z
CAIiEJniq-vM8_UG5_ZzWjARUrQqGQgEKhAIACoHCAowgNjvCjCC3s8BML6jmwY