Ex Dubbo mayor Benjamine Shields: Jury discharged in historic sex charge case, retrial on Monday

The jury in the trial of former Dubbo mayor Ben Shields over allegations of a historic sexual assault has been discharged. Here’s the latest.

The jury in Ben Shield’s trial has been discharged. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

The jury hearing the trial of ex Dubbo mayor Ben Shields, accused of a historic rape charge more than two decades ago, has been discharged.

The trial, which started on Tuesday, is set to return to Parramatta District Court on Monday for a retrial.

Shields, 43, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual intercourse without consent and has denied sexually assaulting a man who was known to him on New Year’s 2003.

Police alleged Shields sexually assaulted an 18-year-old in Dubbo in 2003 when he was 22 and a Dubbo councillor.

The retrial will commence on Monday. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

Police have alleged that the complainant withdrew his consent after an initially consensual threesome.

Shields was arrested in June 2022 and remains on bail.

The retrial is estimated to run for three weeks before judge Huw Baker.