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Kieran Hayler Acquitted of Rape Charges at Lewes Court

By Drooid · Oct 22, 2026, 2:06 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Kieran Hayler Acquitted

Kieran Hayler was found not guilty of raping a 13-year-old girl at Lewes Crown Court.
The jury cleared him of three rape counts, one sexual-assault count and four alternative charges.
Jurors deliberated for 14 hours 55 minutes before delivering the verdicts.
Judge Mark van der Zwart described Katie Price as a ‘dangerous witness’ with a personal agenda.
Hayler thanked the jury, saying he hopes to rebuild his life after five years of ‘absolute hell’.

Summary

Arlette Piercy Claims Prejudice

Barrister Arlette Piercy filed a written application claiming Price’s testimony created an “overwhelming tsunami of prejudice” against the defence.
During cross-examination, the court learned Price had texted the alleged victim when she was 14.
In that message, Price wrote she heard Hayler and the girl had kissed.
The defence argued the testimony generated prejudice they could not effectively counter at trial.

History

Historical Context

The 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial, concluded with a not-guilty verdict after a highly publicized courtroom battle, reshaped expectations of celebrity influence. Judge Lance Ito oversaw the case as prosecutors Marcia Clark and defense lawyer Johnnie Cochran presented arguments to a jury watched by 1.1 million viewers nightly. Similarly, 2024 Lewes Crown Court trial of Kieran Hayler saw Katie Price’s texts and testimony provoke prejudice claims echoing media atmosphere of Simpson’s case. The precedent set by Simpson’s acquittal urges courts to scrutinize celebrity influence, prompting stricter jury instructions and potential reforms to safeguard impartial verdicts.

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Kieran Hayler Acquitted

Kieran Hayler was found not guilty of raping a 13-year-old girl at Lewes Crown Court.
The jury cleared him of three rape counts, one sexual-assault count and four alternative charges.
Jurors deliberated for 14 hours 55 minutes before delivering the verdicts.
Judge Mark van der Zwart described Katie Price as a ‘dangerous witness’ with a personal agenda.
Hayler thanked the jury, saying he hopes to rebuild his life after five years of ‘absolute hell’.

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