Wolf Creek star John Jarratt celebrates after being found not guilty of raping his former housemate more than 40 years ago
- John Jarratt's lawyer and the defence team are filmed making a toast with wine
- When Jarratt's asked who to thank before toasting, he said 'the godfather of law'
- The Wolf Creek actor was charged with the rape of his former housemate
- He was found not guilty by a jury on Friday after denying the charges
- He said they had consensual sex in 1976 at the house they shared with his wife
- Speaking outside court, Jarratt said he was 'over the moon' with the verdict
Australian actor John Jarratt has been filmed celebrating after he was found not guilty of raping his former housemate more than 40 years ago.
Jarratt's lawyer, Chris Murphy, shared the video on Twitter of his legal team toasting Friday's not guilty verdict.
Mr Murphy described Jarratt in the tweet as a 'beautiful guy' and 'a victim' followed by the hashtags '#notguilty' and '#threecheers.'
When Jarratt is asked if he wanted to say something before the toast, the Wolf Creek actor said 'to the godfather of law.'
The 66-year-old had pleaded not guilty to raping the woman in 1976 at their Randwick house, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, which they shared with his wife, Rosa Miano, and at least one other person.
Jarratt's lawyer uploaded the celebratory video to Twitter. When Jarratt is asked if he wanted to say something before the toast, the Wolf Creek actor said 'to the godfather of law.'
The 66-year-old pleaded not guilty to raping the woman in 1976 at their Randwick house, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, which they shared with his wife, Rosa Miano (pictured right), and at least one other person
Jarratt testified before the NSW District Court jury he was seduced into having consensual sex with then 19-year-old woman
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Jarratt testified before the NSW District Court jury he was seduced into having consensual sex with then 19-year-old woman.
'(She said) she found me attractive and, from there, there was, I feel, a seduction,' he told the NSW District Court on Thursday.
'I, unfortunately, participated in that. I willingly had sex with her and she willingly had sex with me. It was consensual.'
Jarratt was charged after the woman went to police in late 2017.
The former housemate, who can't be named for legal reasons, earlier told the court she was woken about 3am by Jarratt ripping off her bed covers and underwear before he pinned her down, covered her mouth with his hand and raped her (John Jarratt pictured in the film Wolf Creek)
The former housemate, who can't be named for legal reasons, earlier told the court she was woken about 3am by Jarratt ripping off her bed covers and underwear before he pinned her down, covered her mouth with his hand and raped her.
She told the jury she didn't report the rape to authorities earlier because she feared she wouldn't be believed.
Under questioning from his barrister Greg James QC, Jarratt said after the encounter there was no further intimacy or any animosity between them.
The jury of five men and seven women took just two hours to return the not guilty verdict on Friday afternoon.
Speaking briefly outside court, Jarratt said he was 'over the moon' with the verdict.
'I've got a wonderful team here, this is my family. I'm just so relieved,' he said.
Overcome with emotional Jarratt then hugged his wife Rosa Miano and said 'this is the love of my life' before walking away.
Jarratt also appeared in the 1975 Australian classic Picnic at Hanging Rock and the movie Australia, as well as on TV shows McLeod's Daughters and Play School.
The jury of five men and seven women took just two hours to return the not guilty verdict on Friday afternoon
Speaking briefly outside court, Jarratt said he was 'over the moon' with the verdict. Overcome with emotional Jarratt then hugged his wife Rosa Miano and said 'this is the love of my life' before walking away
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