Cairns courts: Roman Peter Galaska pleads not guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting passenger

The defence barrister for a taxi driver who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault argued he was a “stupid old man” who said silly things and that he hugged the woman to comfort her, a Cairns court has heard.

A 71-year-old taxi driver’s comments to a woman were “the ramblings of an old man in the early hours of the morning, saying whatever came into his mind”, his defence barrister told a jury in Cairns District Court on Wednesday.

Roman Peter Galaska has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault – that he kissed the woman and that his left hand touched her right breast – after he opened the rear door of the cab for her to exit at the end of a trip from Cairns Hospital.

“Any physical contact was comforting, not motivated by any sexual intention on his part,” barrister James Sheridan said.

“Was it the case he was a stupid old man who said things he should not have?”

He said Mr Galaska was aware he was being recorded and his words were “an inane load of nonsense”.

“Once these allegations are made it is like mud, it just sticks, you can’t get it away from you,” Mr Sheridan said.

“I would ask you to give Mr Galaska a fair go in your deliberations.”

Taxi driver Roman Peter Galaska, who has pleaded guilty to two counst of sexual assault in Cairns District Court, picked up the complainant and took her home to Mooroobool in April 2022. His family, including his wife, have been present throughout the trial. Picture: Supplied

He said it was a comforting hug of a large woman, and it might have been inadvertent touching.

“She was taking medication … in my submission her perceptions would have been seen through that anxious filter or mindset,” Mr Sheridan said.

“He is a 71-year-old man who talks a lot in the taxi, sees a passenger who has been in hospital injured for many hours, comforting her, hugging – from an era long gone, but not sexually motivated.”

The jury was shown the police interview on April 22, 2022 of Mr Galaska.

“I need to know what these charges are that I am totally flabbergasted about,” Mr Galaska said in the interview.

“She was a nice girl, a lot bigger than me, without being unkind,” he said.

“I really did feel sorry for her, I chat a lot, I talk to all my passengers

“She’s got … a couple of bags, so I opened the door for her because she’s a big girl … maybe she held my hand to get out, I do remember I tried to help her, I said ‘take care of yourself’,” he said.

Cairns District Court heard taxi driver Roman Peter Galaska picked up the woman, whose arm was in plaster, from Cairns Hospital in the early hours of the morning and she told him she had been there for many hours. Picture: Brendan Radke

Police put it to Mr Galaska he said to the woman they could drive around, go parking, he could jump in the back and they could entertain themselves for a couple of hours, and Mr Galaska responded “if I said anything like that it would have to be in jest”.

The police asked why he said he could hop in the back.

“Because you say stupid things sometimes … I do say things and get myself into trouble at times saying the wrong thing,” Mr Galaska said.

“I didn’t try to kiss her, I was not attracted to her in any way.

“She would be one I would be least attracted to … it’s not like she had a low cut dress and boobs hanging out.”

“Christ, you can’t do anything in this bloody world, can you … I am so sorry I have done this, there was no sexual intention or connotation,” he said.

In his closing address to the jury, Crown prosecutor Seamus McManus said she was a vulnerable woman and Mr Galaska had “a sense of entitlement, that he can get away with it”.

The trial before Judge Tracy Fantin continues.

Originally published as Cairns courts: Roman Peter Galaska pleads not guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting passenger