Men scared to accuse ‘powerful’ MP Gareth Ward of sexual assault: court

A jury has been invited to convict a “powerful” politician on allegations he sexually abused two young men.

A jury who have sat through the lengthy criminal trial of Kiama MP Gareth Ward have been invited to convict the “powerful” politician on allegations he sexually abused two young men.

Mr Ward, a NSW independent MP, was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015.

Since his arrest three years ago, the 43-year-old has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Gareth Ward was a ‘powerful’ politician at the time of the alleged assaults, a court has been told. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

In Darlinghurst District Court on Friday, Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles continued her closing submissions and told the jury the two men had explained “a number of reasons” as to why they did not complain about the allegations straight away.

Both men gave evidence that the accused was a “powerful” person and they were scared about what would happen if they came forward.

The first complainant, a man who was 24 at the time of the alleged assault, said he took some time to come forward with the allegations as he was “scared for his job”, Ms Knowles reminded the jury.

He did, however, allegedly mention to another parliamentary staffer words to the effect that then premier Gladys Berejiklian had selected a “rapist”, Mr Ward, as the minister for children in her cabinet in 2019.

Meanwhile, the second complainant, a man who had just turned 18 at the time of the alleged assault, “wrestled with going to police” because Mr Ward was “a well-connected person”, Ms Knowles told the court.

“There was an apprehension about going to police or media and it was because the accused was a powerful person … the accused was in a powerful role locally,” Ms Knowles said.

Ms Knowles told the jury that either the second complainant was assaulted at Mr Ward’s Potts Point apartment or he is “the best guesser of all time”.

She said if the alleged assault didn’t happen, then the man had “randomly but correctly guessed” details about Mr Ward’s Potts Point apartment, including the building number, the view from the balcony and the specific bedroom he slept in.

Mr Ward has repeatedly denied the allegations. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“The Crown says he didn’t guess any of these things, he knew them because they happened,” she said.

“After taking everything into account you would be satisfied of the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

“It’s by no sheer chance or coincidence … I invite you to convict.”

Meanwhile, in the defence’s closing address, barrister David Campbell SC reminded the jury the overall burden remained on the Crown to prove each and every element of the counts against Mr Ward.

“Under our system of law there is no need for you to declare him innocent because that is presumed,” he said.

The barrister said Mr Ward was “still a young man” at the time of the alleged assaults and suggested the massage allegedly given to the second complainant at his Meroo Meadow home on the night in question was not indecent.

“What’s so wrong about that?” Mr Campbell said.

“Haven’t we all done that to someone to calm them down … what’s indecent about that?”

When considering the evidence, Mr Campbell also reminded the jury about the “corrosive effect” that time could have on one’s memory.

“Especially on occasions where you had consumed alcohol or too much of it … what effect would that have on your capacity to be reliable in the accounting of events?” he said.

His closing address is expected to continue on Monday morning.

Mr Ward allegedly assaulted the man who had just turned 18 at his South Coast home in February 2013.

It is also alleged the MP sexually assaulted the man who was 24 years old at the time at Mr Ward’s Potts Point apartment in September 2015.

Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since.

Originally published as Men scared to accuse ‘powerful’ MP Gareth Ward of sexual assault: court