Rolf Harris: The Defence Team’s Special Investigator reveals the Truth behind the Trials

by William Merritt

In October 2012, at a time of nascent moral panic over sex crimes allegedly committed years ago by now ageing public figures, the Metropolitan Police – using the code name Operation Yewtree – adopted the mantra 'You will be believed'. Hundreds of people, mainly women, came forward with allegations that resulted in household names facing prosecution.

Rolf Harris was one of the many who were accused.

This is the story of what really happened to Rolf Harris, told from the perspective of the private investigator who, along with his dedicated team, exposed flaws in the police investigation and uncovered evidence that in no small way contributed to Rolf's acquittal at the second and third trials.

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 10, 2022

Reviews

[Michael Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

I had doubts at the time of Rolf Harris's trial as to whether he was guilty.
After reading this book I'm now convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Rolf Harris is innocent.
The police clearly didn't investigate the complainants properly and didn't disclose material evidence to the defence.
Thank you William for writing this outstanding book.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book - not so much because of Rolf Harris, but because it exposes the extremely shaky basis of the Yewtree investigations. There is definitely some miscarriage of justice here. However, the book is mainly focused on the charges of which Harris was found Not Guilty, along with the notorious "Star Games" conviction, which was quashed. It is quite compelling in demonstrating that these charges were false, and showing how it came to be that they nevertheless made it to court. The premise is then introduced that if he was falsely accused of these crimes, then there is a strong chance he was falsely accused of the crimes he WAS convicted of. This is less compelling, though, in the case of Bindi's childhood friend, a case very different from all of the others and quite possibly the one genuine charge of them all. In the end we only have the word of Harris vs the word of the woman involved, and the book doesn't succeed in getting beyond that fact.

[Mr James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Appalling Stitch Up

I thought, because he was found guilty, that Rolf was a paedo. What I didn’t know, and not many people do know, is that his ‘trials’ were an absolute sham and an affront to English (and it is English) justice. He was convicted on nonsensical ‘evidence’ and fitted up by the Met Police and the Crown Prosecution Service. No doubt they wanted a scalp after the vile Saville went to his grave as a free man. Money grabbing people jumping on the compo bandwagon. For a police force to say “complain, you WILL be BELIEVED” is turning the justice system into a lynch mob. I’m so sorry you had to go through this farce Rolf, as had your poor wife and family. We should hang our heads in shame, we really should.