Warrant Officer Darren Mark Fox admits he lied to police during investigations into alleged indecent assault
A soldier accused of groping a woman in a cupboard has admitted he later complimented her on her ‘nice rack’ but says he was joking about the military medals pinned to her chest, a court has heard.
Canberra Star
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A soldier accused of molesting a woman while he exposed himself has admitted he later complimented her on her “nice rack” but says he was joking about the military medals pinned to her chest.
Warrant Officer Darren Mark Fox also admitted to the Defence Force Magistrates Court in Canberra on Wednesday that he lied to military investigators when he told them he had never been alone with the woman in the poky storeroom where he is accused of kissing and folding her while his penis was exposed.
“I just wanted to deny that I was in the room,” he said.
During cross examination, Prosecuting Officer Squadron Leader Steven Whybow asked Warrant Officer Fox why he lied when he hadn’t been told what the allegations he was facing were.
“I just thought it was about kissing her on the cheek,” Warrant Officer Fox said.
“I lied about that room so I wouldn’t be admitting I had even been in that room.
When asked why he had been so “belligerent” in the interview with investigators, Warrant Officer Fox said: “Well, can you explain belligerent? Firstly, what’s belligerent.”
Squadron Leader Whybrow said: “I suggest to you that is because you had assaulted her with a view to commiting an act of indecency upon her”.
“Incorrect, sir,” Warrant Officer Fox said.
Warrant Officer Fox said he gave his alleged victim a “comforting kiss” after closing the door of the store room.
“There was no romance in it sir, it was consoling,” he said.
Warrant Officer Fox agreed he had previously told his legal team the kiss was a “casual but consensual kiss”.
He denied his nickname was “the dirty fox” and said it was his alleged victim, not him who dubbed him that.
“When I held her (the first time) she said ‘oh you’re the dirty fox’ to me,” he said.
“That was the first time I had ever heard it said.”
Warrant Officer Fox said the woman “never said stop” after the first time he kissed her on the cheek, and only stopped him after the second kiss.
“I said, ‘well, I’m probably in trouble for that’,” he said.
He agreed he “didn’t have to lie if that’s all that happened” but denied molesting the woman by fondling her body and trying to put his hands up her shirt.
“I gave her a kiss, she said stop,” he said.
Warrant Officer Fox denied “making this up as you go along” and also denied he “can’t remember what the lies are you have been telling”.
Squadron Leader Whybrow, in his closing address said: “The lie was told because he was fearful of the truth”.
Warrant Officer Fox’s case is that the woman consented to the platonic hug and kiss, and that she injured her ribs at the Melbourne Airport baggage carousel.
Defence Force Magistrate Group Captain Scott Geeves is expected to deliver his verdict on Friday.