John Jarratt: Wolf Creek Actor Breaches Rape

Australian actor John Jarratt must be tried for an alleged rape committed in Sydney in 1976, a court said.

Mr. Jarratt, best known for his role in the horror film Wolf Creek, was charged by police in August.

The actor, then 24, allegedly raped an 18-year-old woman in a house in a residential area of ​​Sydney.

Mr. Jarratt, now 66, pleaded not guilty. His lawyer told a court that he would act a "short and hard" trial.

The actor rose on Thursday to acquiesce when a magistrate told him that his trial would begin late next year, Australian media reported.

Police opened an investigation into the case last December after being contacted by the alleged victim.

Mr. Jarratt is a veteran actor in Australian film and television, who has played many roles over more than four decades.

He first played Mick Taylor at Wolf Creek in 2005 – a film about a killer who pursues backpackers in the backcountry. He took over the role in a sequel and a television series.