DREDD artist on trial
The British SUN tabloid is to sober news reporting what a caramel frappucino is to healthy food, but here’s a sad story from its pages: JUDGE DREDD artist Ron Smith is on trial for abusing a 13-year-old girl back in the ’80s.
Smith, 80 - who drew the futuristic cop cartoon for 2000AD magazine - was said to have assaulted the girl over three years in the 1980s.
Smith acted out a string of sick fantasies in the guise of “teaching” her - even role-playing a knifepoint rape, Guildford Crown Court heard.
The woman, now 39, went to police last year.
Smith, of Godalming, Surrey, denies rape and indecent assault.
06/10/09 at 1:29 pm
Ron Smith?!?!
My favourite Dredd artist, he played a HUGE ( and largely unsung ) part in developing the tone of Dredd and MegaCity 1 back in the early days.
I’m hoping that people won’t rush to judgement before this thing plays out. He deserves at least that much respect.
06/10/09 at 2:03 pm
Simon, Paul Rainey over at The 2000ad Prog Slog has covered this too - I’m going to guess he’ll garner some interesting comments.
http://progslog.blogspot.com/
06/10/09 at 2:32 pm
Doesn’t statue of limitations apply? I don’t know how it works in the British justice system.
06/10/09 at 6:05 pm
Short answer: no.
06/10/09 at 8:15 pm
If true, he deserves no remorse.
I really hope it’s not true.
06/12/09 at 4:28 pm
Ron Smith is my father. I am just so glad that his name has been cleared now. It has been a terrible time for the whole family.