Actor Micheal Ward found not guilty of rape in London
BAFTA-winning actor Micheal Ward has been found not guilty of rape and sexual assault charges by a London court. The jury reached the verdict after a trial concerning an incident that occurred in January 2023.
Why it matters
High-profile legal cases involving public figures often spark broader societal discussions regarding consent and the judicial process.
Actor Micheal Ward has been cleared by a court in London of raping a woman in the back of a Mercedes after meeting her outside a New Year's party.
The BAFTA-winning actor, 28, denied assaulting the woman in his friend's car in 2023, saying their encounter had been consensual and they were "having a great time".
The woman had told Ward's trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, she felt "numb" and "scared", remembered "wanting it all to be over", and that "I didn't really feel like I had a choice".
The jury unanimously found Ward not guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against the woman on 2 January, 2023.
Ward stood quietly in the dock and held his hand to his mouth as the jury foreman slowly announced he was not guilty to each of the charges.
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