Michael Ward, the BAFTA-winning British star of “High Boy” and “Eddington,” has been discovered not responsible of rape and sexual assault by a London courtroom.
The 28-year-old was accused of raping a girl at the back of a automotive after assembly her exterior a New Yr’s social gathering in London in January 2023.
Ward had denied two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration and one depend of sexual assault. On Friday, the jury unanimously discovered him not responsible of all costs.
In line with Sky Information, Ward’s lawyer Humzah Ilyas spoke exterior courtroom and described how the case had a “profound impression” on the actor, who gained a BAFTA Rising Star award in 2020.
“Micheal Ward is extraordinarily grateful to the jury members for taking the time to evaluate the proof on this case so rigorously. As he has maintained all through this case, this was a consensual sexual encounter. The jury agreed and cleared him of any wrongdoing,” Ilyas stated in an announcement.
“It has been three and a half years since police started investigating this matter, throughout which era Michael’s life, and his profitable profession, was placed on maintain. This has inevitably had a profound impression on him and people near him. Michael is grateful that this course of has now come to a conclusion. He appears to be like ahead to returning to the work he loves and specializing in the long run.”
Ilyas added: “As he begins to rebuild his life, Michael want to pay tribute to those that have been victims of sexual violence and abuse. They need to be heard, handled with compassion and have their allegations taken critically.”