Whitsunday businesswoman Heidi Ward has been cleared of assault allegations after a jury found her not guilty

‘The only reason justice prevailed is because of my sheer determination for the truth’

Heidi Michelle Ward has been found not guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm.

A district court judge has labelled an assault case against a Whitsunday businesswoman and former council candidate as one of the most “trivial” he’s come across in three decades as a jury took 12 minutes to find her not guilty.

Judge Brad Farr questioned why the Director of Public Prosecutions had allowed it to run as a jury trial labelling it as “extraordinary”.

Heidi Michelle Ward had been charged with assault following an alleged incident on December 1, 2019.

“The only reason justice prevailed is because of my sheer determination for the truth,” Ms Ward said.

“I burst into tears. I was so proud of myself.”

Ms Ward, who contested the Division 2 seat at the 2020 Whitsunday council election, had maintained her innocence since her arrest and elected for the case to be heard in the district court.

The businesswoman said it was important for her case to be determined by a cross section of her peers rather than a magistrate.

“In all the times I’ve been into the magistrates court, I’ve not seen on one occasion anyone go to trial and win,” she said.

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“The difference between a magistrates court and a district court – he’s (Judge Farr) the epitome of what a judge should be.”

She represented herself in a one-day trial this week where she pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm.

After listening to the evidence, the jury began deliberations at 3.28pm Thursday and had a verdict by 3.40pm.

“I feel compelled to say this, but this trial seems to me throughout to be one of the most trivial matters I have ever encountered in my 30-odd years in the law, in a district court,” Judge Farr said, addressing crown prosecutions.

“Some thought needs to go into these matters by the Director of Public Prosecutions as to whether there is a public benefit in running a jury trial for something as trivial as this.

“I place those views on the record and hopefully they’ll be listened to by those in the director’s office.”

With this outcome Ms Ward said it was now “game on” for her – she said she planned to follow up her complaints to Queensland Police Service in relation to her treatment through the ordeal.

“I hope the police do their due diligence and actually investigate things,” Ms Ward said, adding she had received hate messages as a result of the charge.

“If I didn’t have the mental capacity that I do have … I’d hate to see someone else in my position.

“This is something I’ll be standing up for in the future.”

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Originally published as Whitsunday businesswoman Heidi Ward has been cleared of assault allegations after a jury found her not guilty