Rolf Harris' daughter, Bindi, has told the court of her fears that her dad could die from the strain of his indecent assault trial, adding that child abuse accusations against her elderly father had been “appalling” for him and her mum Alwen.
“I’m frightened they are going to die in the middle of this court case"
Giving evidence in his defence today, Mrs Nicholls said: “My parents are 80-something - this is appalling for them.
“I have had to put my life on hold for the last two years.
“I’m frightened they are going to die in the middle of this court case.”
Rolf Harris is said to have abused his daughter’s childhood friend from the age of 13 for 16 years.
However, in her evidence today, Bindi Nicholls has insisted that her friend confessed to beginning a consensual affair with the Animal Hospital presenter at the age of 18.
Speaking about the moment she discovered the fling, Mrs Nicholls said: “It felt like the whole world had changed in an instant.
“I wanted to stab myself with forks. I was really suicidal about the whole thing.”
Mrs Nicholls explained that she called her dad to confront him.
“I rang him up and said ‘You have been having an affair with my friend. How dare you, how could you? That’s my friend’.
“I was just so angry with him. I said ‘How long has this been going on for?’ He said it was in Bray (that it started).
“He said ‘Sorry, I’m so sorry love’.”
"How dare you, how could you? That’s my friend"
At first Mrs Nicholls blamed her father entirely, but has since forgiven him. She told jurors how she fell out with the alleged victim eight years ago when they got into a physical fight.
Bindi Nicholls also denied seeing her father pay especial attention to her friend on holiday - and insisted that she had taken the photograph of the alleged victim in her bikini, not Rolf.
During a heated exchange in cross-examination, prosecutor Sasha Wass QC suggested: “Are you really coming here today to do your best for your father?”
Mrs Nicholls replied: “No, I’m telling the truth definitely.”
The trial continues.