Jury undecided on whether Vasilious Kafataris had sex with 15-year-old girl

A former English teacher will be released from custody after the jury in his five-week trial was unable to determine if he had sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Vasilious Kafataris has been granted bail after a five-week trial.

A former English teacher will be released from custody after the jury in his five-week trial was unable to determine if he had sex with a 15-year-old girl.

However, Bankstown man Vasilious “Bill” Kafataris, 56, has been found not guilty of common assault, grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity and indecent assault of a person under 16 after being charged over allegations dating back to January 2013.

The NSW office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will determine if another trial is held after the jury was unable to return a verdict on a further charge of grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity, which relates to a claim he had sex with the teenager in his unit.

Kafataris exhaled heavily as he heard his fate in Parramatta District Court on Wednesday, four days after the 11-person jury began its deliberations after hearing evidence from three complainants.

Judge Alister Abadee again asked the jury foreman if the group was likely to reach a unanimous verdict on the remaining charge if it had more time to deliberate.

Vasilious Kafataris may have to face trial again after a jury was unable to determine if he was guilty or not guilty of having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

When the answer was “no”, the judge discharged the jurors.

Kafataris’ barrister, Leslie Nicholls, successfully applied to have his client released on bail.

The 56-year-old had been in custody since April after he breached bail conditions the previous month when he approached a witness and alleged victim.

The Crown did not oppose bail if he adhered to conditions, including reporting to Bankstown Police Station weekly and not approaching witnesses.

Kafataris is due to face court again for a sentence hearing on November 29 after he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually touching a person between 17 and 18 under special care.

That charge related to him kissing a 17-year-old girl outside his apartment.

NSW Police child abuse and sex crimes squad detectives began investigating Kafataris in April 2021 following reports he had sexually touched the teen he kissed.

Originally published as Jury undecided on whether Vasilious Kafataris had sex with 15-year-old girl