A COMMUNITY campaigner whose son died in the 1981 New Cross Fire is due to stand trial for a second time charged with sexually assaulting a schoolgirl.
George Francis, aged 77, was found guilty of three charges of sexual assault at Croydon Crown Court on June 30.
But jurors could not agree on two further charges so now a re-trial date of March 22 next year has been set following a trial readiness hearing on December 1.
Francis, of Kent House Road, Sydenham, will stand trial on one charge of sexually assaulting a child under 13 and on one charge of indecent assault.
It follows allegations made by an 11-year-old girl, now aged 12, saying Francis had tried to kiss her on numerous occasions and touched her.
Jurors acquitted Francis on two charges of assaulting a second schoolgirl who claimed he tried to kiss her at the June hearing.
He will be sentenced for the guilty charges once the March trial is over.
Francis' 17-year-old son Gerry was one of 14 young people who died in the New Cross house fire disaster in New Cross Road on January 18, 1981.
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