Rocky Horror actor Craig McLachlan cleared of assault charges
Rocky Horror Show actor Craig McLachlan has been found not guilty of all 13 charges he faced of assault and indecent assault against his former co-stars.
The 55-year-old had been charged with seven counts of indecent assault and six of common law assault against four women during a run of the musical in Australia.
Melbourne magistrate Belinda Wallington on Tuesday dismissed all 13 charges.
But she wanted it known the four complainants âwere brave and honest witnessesâ.
She rejected McLachlanâs suggestions the women colluded against him.
The magistrate noted laws around the standard of proof required for consent had changed since the time of the allegations.
Current standards, that an accusedâs belief in consent must have been reasonable, are not retrospective and may have changed the outcome of the charges, Wallington said.
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Among the allegations were that McLachlan tickled a womanâs thigh from behind while onstage.
Prosecutors argued this amounted to indecent assault or, failing that, assault.
Melbourne Magistrates Court was told McLachlan played tricks on the cast to make them laugh.
In her decision, Wallington said the Gold Logie-winning actor seems to have thought touching his co-star this way was funny.
But she could not exclude the possibility that an âegotistical self-entitled sense of humour led the accused to genuinely think that (the woman) was consenting to his actionsâ.
McLachlan was also accused of tracing his finger around the outline of another womanâs vagina while they performed a âbedroomâ scene.
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Prosecutors said this wasnât part of McLachlanâs role as Dr Frank-N-Furter.
The court was told heâd previously made jokes about the womanâs âlittle slitâ being visible through her costume.
Wallington concluded McLachlan stopped touching the woman when he became aware she didnât consent, and dismissed that charge of indecent assault.
McLachlan has always strenuously denied all the allegations against him.
His legal team took aim at his accusersâ motivations for coming forward, the clothes they wore, poses they struck in photos and the way they interacted with cast members during the highly sexualised production.
Wallington was perturbed that McLachlanâs lawyers, led by Stuart Littlemore QC, seemed unfamiliar with rules prohibiting inappropriate questioning.
âI was not assisted by the lines of questioning ⌠that called into question the reputations of the complainants, sexual or otherwise, (or) the poses they struck,â she said.
McLachlan gave evidence that heâd always been âenergised and enthusiastic and over the top in the workplaceâ.
He did not appear in person for Tuesdayâs decision and instead tuned in remotely from Sydney.
Following the decision, he told reporters heâd maintained âa dignified and respectful silence for the past almost three yearsâ and put his trust in the law.
âWe arenât going to speak in any detail today. We will certainly do so in the immediate new year. As you can imagine, we have a lot to say,â McLachlan said.
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