Outlander actor to face rape trial - details

Outlander actor Gregory Odjig is to stand trial charged with raping a woman. 

The 45-year-old actor, who played the role of Satehoronies in the show's fourth season, is said to have carried out the attack at the Premier Suites Plus serviced apartments in Glasgow's Bath Street on May 16, 2021.

Prosecutors claimed that the victim was intoxicated and asleep or unconscious and therefore unable to consent. Odjig also faces a separate assault charge of punching her on the head. 

The case called for a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.

Odjig's KC Ronnie Renucci said: "He pleads not guilty in respect of the charges on the indictment."

Odjig was not at the hearing and currently lives in Canada, according to the defence advocate. He remains on bail until the trial, which will take place in June 2024 and is expected to last five days. 

READ: Outlander season 7: everything you need to know about the story so far

Renucci said: "I ask for it to be fixed for that date."

Prosecutor Angela Gray said that given the time between now and the trial, consideration will be given to arrange for the woman to give evidence earlier on "commission", which would mean that her testimony would be recorded on camera and the video played to the jurors. 

As well as appearing in Odjig, the Canadian-born actor has appeared in various TV series. His most notable roles include the TV show Cashing In, in which he played Trevor Blueweed from seasons one to four. He also appeared in the Canadian medical drama, Hard Rock Medical, portraying Trevor from seasons two to four. 

Odjig has also landed roles in shows such as Cardinal, Fargo and Warehouse 13. His most recent screen credit is the 2020 crime thriller, The Silencing, in which he played the role of Sam Moonblood. 

He is also a professional wrestler.

The news comes the same day that fellow actor Danny Masterson was found guilty on two out of three counts of rape.

The That '70s Show star faces up to thirty years in prison after three women, all former members of the Church of Scientology, accused the actor of sexual assault at his Hollywood home from 2001-03.

Prosecutors said that the 47-year-old used his prominence in the church to avoid accountability.

After a week of deliberations, the jury of seven women and five men was unable to reach a verdict on a third count, ending up deadlocked at 8-4.

Masterson did not testify and no witnesses were called by his lawyers. During the trial, the defence tried to undermine the credibility of the women's stories. 

While the actor was not charged with drugging the three women, the jury heard testimony that the victims had been dosed before he raped them.

The defence also argued that the prosecution had relied heavily on testimony about drugging due to an absence of evidence of any violence or force. 

Masterson's lawyers tried to have a mistrial declared but the motion was denied. 

One of the victims said in a statement quoted by the Associated Press: "I am experiencing a complex array of emotions - relief, exhaustion, strength, sadness - knowing that my abuser, Danny Masterson, will face accountability for his criminal behaviour."

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