Killarney Vale: Alleged child sex abuse trial has mixed outcome

The case involving the couple who allegedly plied a 14-year-old girl with drugs before having sex with her in a caravan has had mixed results.

The trial involving a couple that allegedly drugged and had sex a teenage girl in 2019 at Killarney Vale has resulted in a hung jury.

The jury took more than 10 hours to hand down its decision at Gosford District Court on Friday before Judge John North.

The couple pleaded not guilty to nine and seven counts, respectively, of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child, sexual touching and intentionally doing a sexual act with a child.

It was alleged the couple drugged the girl, aged 14, in a caravan at Killarney Vale before engaging in sexual acts with her in a nearby bush track as well as in the caravan.

The woman, 34, was found guilty of two counts of aggravated intentionally do sexual act with child over the age of 10 and under the age of 16.

The woman (orange shirt) covers her face as she gets into a car at Wyong Local Court after her first court appearance in 2020. Picture: Fiona Killman

She was found not guilty of another charge of aggravated intentionally do sexual act with a child and a charge of intentionally sexually touch child over 10 and under 16.

The jury was unable to reach a decision on the charges of intentionally sexually touch child over 10 and under 16 and two counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child over the age of 14 but under 16.

The man, aged 46, was found guilty of two counts of aggravated-intentionally do sexual act with child over 10 and under 16.

He was found not guilty of another charge of aggravated-intentionally do sexual act with child over 10 and under 16 and intentionally sexually touch a child over 10 and under 16.

The jury was hung on charges of three counts of intentionally sexually touch child over 10 and under 16 and two counts of aggravated – sexual intercourse with a child over 14 and under 16.

The trial was held at Gosford District Court. Picture: David Swift

On day one of the trial, the court heard that a 14-year-old girl had gone for a sleep over at a friend’s house at Killarney Vale in October 2019.

The court heard that the couple were in a relationship at the time with the man living in a caravan on the front yard of her property.

The Crown prosecutor said during the afternoon/evening the victim was allegedly given drugs, sexually touched and forced to watch the couple having sex in the caravan and on a bush track in Tumbi Umbi.

At one stage during the night, the couple got into bed with the victim and allegedly sexually abused her.

“(The woman) also placed a hand over the complainant’s mouth and so the complainant was unable to make any noise,” the Crown prosecutor said.

The jury was hung on a number of charges.

The court heard the girl disclosed some of the events to a friend and family about a week later before her grandmother took her to the police on October 10, 2019.

The couple were arrested on May 22 and each participated in an interview with police where they both “denied the charges”.

The man’s barrister Simon Healy told the jury not to “prejudge” the case but instead to wait until all the evidence was in, including Mr Horton’s police interview.

For the matters where a guilty verdict was found, the sentence has been listed for February 3 at the Sydney Downing Centre.

The hung jury matters will return to court where the Crown will make a decision on whether to pursue another trial or withdraw the matters.