[ad_1]
Footage of actor Craig McLachlan pretending to masturbate was played in a Melbourne court that is hearing his trial on indecent assault charges.
The 55-year-old described it as an obscene joke with one of four women who accuse him of indecent assault.
Video played Thursday at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court showed McLachlan touching his crotch area over his pants.
“I’m pretending to touch myself out of my shorts,” Matt Fisher told prosecutor.
“[The woman] and I was used to making obscene jokes, “he said.
Two more videos were also played, of McLachlan on or near a bathroom with his pants down, making pained facial expressions.
The actor said he shared them with the same woman as part of a catering joke while the show was being produced.
None of the footage is the subject of the allegations McLachlan faces for his alleged conduct towards women during a particular Rocky Horror Show run in Australia.
He is charged with seven counts of indecent assault and six of common law assault.
Among them is an accusation of tracing her finger around the contour of a co-star’s vagina during a “bed” scene on the Rocky Horror Show.
McLachlan denied this and argued that the charge did not match the timing of production.
“Surely by the time he named, they are almost two meters away,” he said. He had previously described the accuser as the “grossest” person he had ever met.
Footage of one of the songs from the musical, Sweet Transvestite, was played at court.
The court was told about a playful and playful atmosphere among the cast members.
McLachlan previously claimed to have always been “energetic, enthusiastic and over the top in the workplace”.
One of his accusers had straddled him with an inflatable porpoise, he claimed.
He also admitted kissing some of his accusers, but said these cases were consensual and did not amount to indecent assault.
McLachlan denied another allegation, which told a woman she could smell her vagina and it smelled sweet.
The hearing is expected to continue on Friday.
Source link