ORITSE WILLIMAS has been found not guilty of rape.
The singer was on trial after being charged of raping a 20-year-old woman in December 2016 and was charged alongside his tour manager Jamien Nagadhana - who was also found not guilty of sexual assault by touching and assault by penetration.
During the trial, the jury saw police interviews from both Williams and the unidentified woman.
In the entertainer's interview, he said: “The girl said she wanted to spend the night with me, I said no problem, we started making out. I pulled out a condom for safe sex as I’m ambassador for safe sex, because of the alcohol I couldn’t perform too well, which is embarrassing to say.
“We lay down and fell asleep and I can remember waking up to a knock at the door, it was the girl and she was with a male member of staff.
“She said she wanted to look for her phone. She left and then I woke again in the morning to a knock at the door and it was the police.”
Williams added: “I am feeling bewildered at this whole thing. I do feel taken advantage of. I just feel like a musician, an artist that has been put into a position where they have been taken advantage of.”
On May 24, the jury retired to consider their verdict, which was confirmed as not guilty today (May 29).
The jury, which was made up of eight women and four men, deliberated for two hours and 17 minutes before reaching its unanimous verdicts.
After the verdict was announced, Williams, 32, smiled and said ‘thank you’ towards the judge after being told he could leave Wolverhampton Crown Court.
His former bandmate Marvin Humes celebrated his friend being found not guilty on social media. He wrote: ‘Cleared..Not Guilty! Finally my brother @oritsemusic three years of hell is over! No-one will ever know or imagine what he’s been through..I’m just so proud of the way he conducted himself during what has been the most awful time..he is so strong and I know he can’t wait to start his life again now..We love you O.’
Many took to social media to share their support for Williams. Presenter Rickie Haywood-Williams commented on Humes' Instagram post "Thats what Im talking about", while another user wrote: "Our system is so messed up! As soon as an allegation is made someone’s career and life take a hit. Oritsé, you’re amazing and you still have so many of us behind you!."
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