Amazing.

A simple, sordid tale of a pathetic dirty old man, having exploited his cheesy avuncular image to stick his fingers inside vulnerable children.

The fact that he is a successful, if somewhat daggy, entertainer should be entirely irrelevant to the case. The only reason the trial went on for so long was because he had the resources mount an expensive defence, unlike your common-or-garden pervert. If you strip away the celebrity aspects, and concentrate on the evidence presented over the seven weeks of the trial, it is pretty clear that he saw nothing wrong with exercising his fantasies on children, careless of the impact on their lives.

In the words of one (Australian) reporter from the trial:

"...we’ve also heard the dull, dead voice of a woman who blamed her ruined life on abuse by one of Australia’s til-now-favourite sons.
And we have heard of others left scarred, disgusted and disillusioned by their encounter with a man they had admired, even loved."

http://www.smh.com.au/world/rolf-harris-guilty-the-moment-on-the-witness-stand-he-came-closest-to-convicting-himself-20140701-zsrij.html

I hope they put him away. Ideally, with a six-foot-six tattooed father-of-teenage-daughters as a cellmate.

really pleased to see that even the 'progressives ' display that they don't believe in moral relativism unless of course it suites their cause. The porn Rolf seemed addicted to obviously fed his appetites. Oh thats right it can't harm anyone.

So Harris went down on twelve counts. I believe he's eighty four, obviously well past his performing days other than painting I suppose ? The presiding judge warned him that he could expect gaol on his return to Court for sentence tomorrow, Friday (I think?).

So what'll he get ? I don't know, but I can hazard a guess at what he's already received...? Total public humiliation. Having most, if not all of his art works, which currently hang in some very prominent places, removed. Being stripped of all his awards, both here and in the UK. Plus many other penalties, punitive actions, and sanctions, he's yet to even encounter ?

I've heard several of the victims have issued a criminal compensatory writ with a large firm of lawyers in Melbourne ? So it would appear Harris will encounter some pretty costly civil pecuniary penalties (if successful) too ? I'm not sure in British jurisprudence, if the Court can impose a solid fine, together with a custodial penalty for such offences ?

Boy oh boy, if that's what many of us really wish to witness, this eighty four old individual punished VERY severely, we'll most assuredly see it, there'll be no doubt of that !

I for one will have no delight in seeing it happen, notwithstanding I hate and detest 'kiddie .....s !

Sung wu.

Thanks to RObert, Paul and Foxy (and others) for making reasonable unemotional sense in their posts.

I think Pericles nailed it in his post.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/rolf-harris-guilty-the-moment-on-the-witness-stand-he-came-closest-to-convicting-himself-20140701-zsrij.html

I'm afraid Rolf Harris has only himself to blame for all this.

He should have kept his hands to himself.

I think that there ought to be some limitation on the length of time between an offence and prosecution, memories dim and witnesses may have died or be in the grip of dementia.
If people don't come forward once they pass the voting age by five years then the matter ought to be let rest.

o sung wu,
You and I both know that this sub culture of sick humanity was there in our day and is still there.
There is only one answer to the problem but unfortunately Australia does not subscribe to capital punishment.