Latest news with #MerooMeadow
ABC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
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.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Man ‘scared for his job' after alleged MP sexual assault
A man who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him told a friend he was 'scared for his job' if he came forward with the allegations, a court has been told. The NSW independent MP was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Mr Ward sat in the Downing Centre District Court docks on Monday for the fourth week of the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC. A friend and housemate of the complainant, who was 24 at the time of the alleged assault, took the stand to give evidence. Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles asked the man about a conversation between himself and the complainant in which he appeared 'upset'. '(Name redacted) came to me … seemingly upset and told me of an incident that had happened between himself and Gareth Ward,' the man told the court. 'He was quite distressed and there were tears welling in his eyes.' The man said the complainant had described 'something of a sexual nature had occurred' and said it was 'unwanted from his standpoint'. The complainant 'appeared distressed' during the conversation, the court was told, before the man's roommate asked why the man was not coming forward with the allegations. 'He felt that he was scared for his job and that the perceived power that Gareth had within the Liberal Party would potentially mean that he would lose his job,' the man said. The complainant had earlier told the court that he attended an event on the night of the alleged assault at NSW Parliament House in 2015 before heading back to Mr Ward's apartment. There, the MP poured the man a drink before allegedly attempting to kiss the man on Mr Ward's balcony, to which the political staffer pushed him away and said 'no'. Mr Ward leaned in again a short time later and kissed the man before the 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, the court was told. The Crown alleges the man was shown to his room by Mr Ward, who had allegedly stripped down to his boxers. Mr Ward allegedly put an arm over the man and his hands on the man's buttocks before he was told to stop. Without warning, it's alleged Mr Ward digitally penetrated the man before kissing his neck and masturbating. The two maintained a professional relationship for some time after the alleged events, the court was told. The man made a formal statement years later to police, and Mr Ward was formally charged in March 2022. In her opening address three weeks ago, Ms Knowles alleged that Mr Ward indecently assaulted another man, who had just turned 18, at his home on the South Coast in February 2013. Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since. The trial before a 15-person jury continues.
News.com.au
13-06-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Man told he was ‘exaggerating' after allegedly being sexually assaulted by Kiama MP Gareth Ward
A parliamentary associate who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him was allegedly told he was 'exaggerating' when coming forward to another staffer. The NSW independent MP was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Mr Ward arrived at the Downing Centre District Court on Friday and sat in the docks for the third week of the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC. A parliamentary associate who worked with the complainant, who was 24 at the time of the alleged assault, took the stand to give evidence. The staffer said the complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had told him years after the alleged rape that Mr Ward had 'done something' to him. 'I still can't remember the full detail of the conversation but I remember the emotion of the conversation,' the man told the court. The man said the complainant was 'emotional' during their conversation, but he believed that he was 'exaggerating'. 'I remember saying that I felt that whatever it was that (the complainant) was saying that he was exaggerating what he was saying, but I can't recall more details than that,' he said. 'I can remember that being my immediate reaction to it … and I remember being dismissive of what he was saying.' The witness added that he 'didn't know' why he didn't take any action after the conversation, only that he had 'blocked the whole thing' out of his memory. The witness was then quizzed in cross-examination by solicitor Edward Anderson about the details of an event at Parliament House on the night of the alleged rape. The man told the court that he couldn't remember a lot of specific details and exactly who he saw on the night but explained that 'everything that could go wrong' at the event 'went wrong'. His cross-examination is expected to continue on Friday afternoon. In court on Wednesday, the alleged victim told the court that he was 'concerned' that making a report to police would 'cause problems for Mr Ward'. 'I believe Mr Ward is an incredible local member … just because he did these things to me does not mean he is a bad person,' the man said. He had earlier told the court that he attended an event on the night of the alleged assault at NSW Parliament House in 2015 before heading back to Mr Ward's apartment. There, the MP poured the man a drink before allegedly attempting to kiss the man on Mr Ward's balcony, to which the political staffer pushed him away and said 'no'. Mr Ward leaned in again a short time later and kissed the man before the 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, the court was told. The Crown alleges the man was shown to his room by Mr Ward, who had allegedly stripped down to his boxers. Mr Ward allegedly put an arm over the man and his hands on the man's buttocks before he was told to stop. Without warning, it's alleged Mr Ward digitally penetrated the man before kissing his neck and masturbating. The two maintained a professional relationship for some time after the alleged events, the court was told. The man made a formal statement years later to police, and Mr Ward was formally charged in March 2022. In her opening address two weeks ago, Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles alleged that Mr Ward indecently assaulted another man, who had just turned 18, at his home on the South Coast in February 2013. Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since. The trial before a 15-person jury continues.
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Kiama MP Gareth Ward an ‘incredible local member': court
A political staffer who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him has told a court that he believes the 'incredible local member' isn't a 'bad person'. The NSW independent MP was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Mr Ward arrived in court on Wednesday for the third week of the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC. The complainant, who was 24 at the time of the alleged assault, took the stand in a cross-examination by defence lawyer David Campbell SC. Mr Campbell questioned the man over his delays in making a report to police about the alleged incident. 'I didn't want this to play out in the media … there was a lot of reasons why I hadn't come forward before then,' the man said. The alleged victim in his previous evidence told the court that he was 'concerned' that making a report to police would 'cause problems for Mr Ward'. Mr Campbell asked the man why he was concerned if Mr Ward 'had done the things you say he had done to you'. 'These things have a habit of getting out … and I didn't want this process to be played out in the media …. I wanted it to go through the courts,' the man replied. 'But you knew you would have to make a complaint to police?' Mr Campbell pressed the man. 'I believe Mr Ward is an incredible local member … just because he did these things to me does not mean he is a bad person,' the man said. 'His electorate shouldn't pay the price' Facebook messages between Mr Ward and the man in April 2021 were also read out in court on Wednesday in which the man apologised to Mr Ward for not 'keeping in touch' but congratulated him on his 'amazing' work. The man said 'work wise' he had struggled to 'find anyone with a bad word to say' about Mr Ward. 'How are things down in your neck of the woods?' the man asked, before stating he would 'love to catch up'. Mr Campbell suggested the kind messages were 'hardly the kind of utterance' you'd expect from someone who had 'previously sexually violated you'. In Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles's re-examination on Wednesday afternoon, the man was asked how he managed to still hold respect for Mr Ward as a member of parliament yet not report him to police. 'It's a matter of hats … when you work in a field like politics you sometimes have to separate the personal from the professional which is what I believed I was doing,' the man replied. The man said it made him 'think twice' about approaching police because Mr Ward had 'achieved a great deal for his electorate'. 'I felt … his electorate shouldn't pay the price for some mistakes … for his actions,' the man said. He had earlier told the court that he attended an event on the night of the alleged assault at NSW Parliament House in 2015 before heading back to Mr Ward's apartment. There, the MP poured the man a drink before allegedly attempting to kiss the man on Mr Ward's balcony, to which the political staffer pushed him away and said 'no'. Mr Ward leaned in again a short time later and kissed the man before the 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, the court was told. The Crown alleges the man was shown to his room by Mr Ward, who had allegedly stripped down to his boxers. Mr Ward allegedly put an arm over the man and his hands on the man's buttocks before he was told to stop. Without warning, it's alleged Mr Ward digitally penetrated the man before kissing his neck and masturbating. The two maintained a professional relationship for some time after the alleged events, the court was told. The man made a formal statement years later to police, and Mr Ward was formally charged in March 2022. In her opening address two weeks ago, Ms Knowles alleged that Mr Ward indecently assaulted another man, who had just turned 18, at his home on the South Coast in February 2013. Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since. The trial before a 15-person jury continues.
News.com.au
03-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
‘Respect for you': Email read in court in Kiama MP Gareth Ward's sexual assault trial
A parliamentary associate who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him has told a court that he still respects him 'immensely', describing him as an 'incredible local member'. Mr Ward, 43, is facing a four-week criminal trial in the Downing Centre District Court on allegations he sexually abused two young men. The NSW independent MP was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015. Mr Ward arrived in court on Tuesday for the second week of the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC. The complainant who was 24 at the time of the alleged assault took the stand to give evidence for a fourth day. During a cross-examination by defence solicitor David Campbell SC, an email the man sent to Mr Ward in March 2019 was read to the court. In the email the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, wrote to Mr Ward to express his interest in the hope of securing a parliamentaryrole before flourishing the state independent MP with compliments. 'You know just how committed I am to this … how loyal I am to my boss, and how hard I work … and that I would give it all to make you look good,' the man's email said. The man then wrote in bold type that he would have 'no hard feelings' if Mr Ward could not find a role for him. 'Your friendship means the world to me … and my respect for you is already as high as it can be,' the email read. Mr Campbell put to the man that it was 'hardly a sentence you would use to describe a man who you allege had previously sexually violated you'. 'I disagree … this is me auditioning for a job … sometimes you overcompensate,' the man replied, adding that he had 'embellished' the email. Mr Campbell said the man had been prepared to say something 'false' in the email, referring to his description of their friendship, to which the man agreed but added that he still held professional esteem for Mr Ward. The man told the court that he still respected Mr Ward 'immensely', adding that he is an 'incredible local member'. When he quizzed the man over his conversation with another parliamentary staffer in 2019, Mr Campbell said the man had told the staffer words to the effect that then Premier Gladys Berejiklian had selected a 'rapist', Mr Ward, as the minster for children in her cabinet. The man replied that he didn't recall the conversation, but it would be 'consistent' with what he reported to police. THE ALLEGATIONS The man had earlier told the court that he attended an event on the night of the alleged assault at NSW Parliament House in 2015 before heading back to Mr Ward's apartment. At Mr Ward's apartment, the MP poured the man a drink before allegedly attempting to kiss him on his balcony, to which the political staffer pushed him away and said 'no'. Mr Ward leaned in again a short time later and kissed the man before the 24-year-old said he wanted to go to bed, the court was told. The Crown alleges the man was shown to his room by Mr Ward, who had allegedly stripped down to his boxers. Mr Ward allegedly put an arm over the man and his hands on the man's buttocks before he was told to stop. Without warning, it's alleged Mr Ward digitally penetrated him before allegedly kissing his neck and masturbating. The two maintained a professional relationship for some time after the alleged events, the court was told. The man made a formal statement years later to police, and Mr Ward was formally charged in March 2022. In her opening address last week, Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles alleged that Mr Ward indecently assaulted another man, who had just turned 18, at his home on the South Coast in February 2013. Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since. The trial before a 15-person jury continues.
