Oritse Williams: Ex-JLS star to face rape trial after pleading not guilty in Wolverhampton
Williams posed with fans outside Wolverhampton Crown Court after denying a charge of rape.
Former JLS star Oritse Williams has denied raping a woman in a Wolverhampton hotel.
The 31-year-old singer will go on trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court next year after he pleaded not guilty at the court this morning.
During a 36-minute hearing, Williams spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and nationality as well as to deny the charge - choosing to write down his address rather than say it out loud.
After leaving the court, Williams posed for photos with fans and smiled for their cameras in Pipers Row.
The pop star picked one child up for a selfie and laughed and joked with members of the public who recognised him.
Co-defendant Jamien Nagadhana, also 31, pleaded not guilty to assault in connection with the same incident.
Williams, who enjoyed chart success after shooting to fame on The X Factor in 2008, was arrested in 2016 after allegations he raped a woman following a gig at Gorgeous nightclub in the city on December 2.
He was charged in September this year and was granted unconditional bail when he appeared before magistrates in Walsall in October.
Williams, of Upper Shirley Road in Croydon, south London, and Nagadhana, of Hounslow, London, were again granted unconditional bail today and the trial is due to begin on May 14 next year.
Judge Nicholas Webb told the defendants: “The position is this – your trial is now listed for May 14. Your bail will continue until that date.”
