Jury sworn in for Rolf Harris indecent assault trial

A jury has been sworn in for the trial of artist and entertainer Rolf Harris, from Bray in Berkshire, who is accused of a string of indecent assaults.

The 84-year-old appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court, accompanied by his wife Alwen, who looked on from the public gallery with other family members as he sat in the glass-walled dock.

Wearing a grey suit and a pink shirt with blue stripes, and a red and black tie, Harris listened to proceedings through a hearing loop.

A panel of 12, made up of six men and six women, along with three extras, two men and one woman, were chosen from a pool of more than 20 potential members.

Harris stood at the front of the dock as the process took place, and the indictment was read out.

Harris is accused of 12 counts of indecent assault on four alleged victims, the youngest of whom was seven or eight and the oldest 19, between 1968 and 1986, which he denies.

The clerk of the court read the indictment to the jury, going through the 12 counts as Harris stood in the dock.

The allegations are:

* Count 1 - indecent assault of a girl aged seven or eight on an occasion between January 1968 and January 1970;

* Count 2 - the same offence on a girl aged 14 between January 1975 and January 1976;

* Counts 3 and 4 - the same offence on a girl aged 12 to 15 between December 1978 and April 1981;

* Count 5 - indecent assault of a girl aged 14 to 15 between the same dates;

* Counts 6 to 8 - indecent assault of a girl aged 12 to 15 between the same dates;

* Count 9 - the same offence on a girl aged 19 between January 1984 and January 1985;

* Counts 10 to 12 - the same offence on a girl aged 14 on May 31 1986.

The former television presenter denies all the counts.

Mr Justice Sweeney told the three extra jurors that they will sit in court for the beginning of the trial in case any issues arise with the 12 who were sworn in.