Prosecutor Calls River City Actor's Testimony 'Unreliable' in Rape Trial

A prosecutor urged jurors to dismiss the claims of River City actor Iain Robertson as unreliable, while his defense questioned the credibility of the allegations against him.

In a recent trial at the High Court in Glasgow, prosecutor John Keenan KC urged jurors to reject the testimony of actor Iain Robertson, describing it as "wholly incredible and unreliable." Robertson, 45, faces seven charges related to crimes against four women, including allegations of rape, occurring between 2004 and 2020.

During his closing remarks, Keenan emphasized the strength of the women's testimonies, which he characterized as "strong and overwhelming" accounts of their experiences with Robertson. One of the women, known to him from his role in River City, alleged that he raped her, claiming she was "limp and unresponsive" during the incident and did not actively participate.

In addition to the rape charge, there is another accusation against Robertson regarding an incident in September 2007, where it is claimed he had sex with another woman without her consent during a gathering in the Lake District. Keenan recounted that the woman described being forced despite her repeated refusals, stating she told him "no" and asked him to "stop." He described the encounter as "controlling, humiliating and demeaning," a theme that he suggested was consistent across the testimonies of the other women involved.

Another allegation involved an actress who accused Robertson of assault, threats, and harassment. Keenan recalled how this witness described Robertson as "spitting out words" and exhibiting "disproportionately angry" behavior at times. He also noted that after their relationship ended, Robertson sent her gifts, including Graze snack boxes, at theatres where she was performing. Keenan suggested that while sending gifts might seem innocuous, it took on a more sinister connotation given Robertson's alleged violent and controlling nature.

The prosecutor described the accusations from a final woman as less severe but still significant, alleging that she experienced "confusing behavior" from Robertson and claimed he pushed her while they were together at his hut in Carbeth, Stirlingshire.

In addressing the jury, Keenan critiqued Robertson's own testimony, suggesting that his denials and explanations appeared to be concocted on the spot to address difficult questions. He posed a rhetorical challenge to the jury, questioning how four unrelated individuals could fabricate similar allegations against Robertson, urging them to dismiss his evidence as incredible and unreliable. He underscored that Robertson's denials seemed hollow when contrasted with the women's accounts.

In his defense, Gary Allan KC argued that the prosecution seemed to criticize Robertson for providing detailed testimony, questioning whether having too much detail in his account should be seen as a negative. He remarked, "Is that really what the suggestion was? Should he have stuck his head in the sand and said: 'I don't know'?" Allan reiterated Robertson's statement that he was "no angel" and acknowledged there were aspects of his conduct he was not proud of. However, he asked the jury whether they could confidently conclude they did not believe Robertson's denials of the allegations.

The trial is set to continue on Tuesday, with Lady Drummond expected to finalize her legal instructions to the jury.