Friend says Gareth Ward accuser afraid to go to police due to MP's political influence
A man who accused former NSW government minister Gareth Ward of sexual assault told a friend he was too afraid to report the alleged abuse due to the MP's political influence, a court has heard.
The now independent MP is standing trial in the NSW District Court after he pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent with the complainant, who was 24-years-old at the time, at a Potts Point apartment in 2015.
The Member for Kiama has also denied four other charges, including indecent assault, involving a second complainant, who was 18 at the time, at his Meroo Meadow home in 2013.
At the start of the fourth week of the trial, the friend said the older complainant told him about the alleged assault one evening.
"He described something of a sexual nature had occurred and it was unwanted from his standpoint," the witness said.
"I remember him standing, and he would always stand when he wanted my attention, so I knew it was something quite important he was telling me.
He said the complainant didn't disclose much detail but named Mr Ward as being involved.
The friend said he asked why the incident had not been reported to the police.
"He felt he was scared for his job and the perceived power that Gareth would have," he told the court.
"He [worried he] would lose his job and he was scared to come forward because of that."
Earlier in the trial the defence argued the encounter with the older complainant never occurred.
The trial also heard from a former political staffer, who described a conversation in early 2017 with the older complainant who was upset and angry with Mr Ward.
The staffer said the complainant looked "not necessarily distressed but seemed very upset".
Under cross-examination by Mr Ward's barrister David Campbell SC on Friday, the staffer said he remembered the emotion of the conversation more than the detail and acknowledged his court testimony differed from what he told police in 2021.
In the police statement the witness made no mention of the alleged assault, but he told the court last week the complainant had mentioned the allegation to him.
"Can I suggest that the version in the statement is a more accurate version," Mr Campbell said.
"You can suggest it — but I wouldn't agree with it, " the staffer replied.
The trial continues.
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