Jury to Consider Verdicts in Gareth Ward Trial

As the trial of Kiama MP Gareth Ward continues, lawyers have made their closing arguments in the case of alleged sexual abuse charges. The independent MP's defense team argues that one of the accusers has a "certain unreliability" and that the Crown has failed to discharge its burden of proof. The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdicts on Tuesday, after the judge completes her directions.

Key Takeaways:

• The defense team argues that one of the accusers has a history of exaggeration and has shown inconsistencies in his statement.
• The barrister pointed out that the accuser sent friendly emails and social media messages to Ward in the years after the alleged incident, which suggests a lack of trauma.
• Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles argued that it was "not a coincidence" that both alleged victims came forward with "remarkably similar accounts" of being assaulted by Ward.
• The defense team criticized the officer in charge of investigating Ward, former detective senior constable Cameron Bignell, for failing to make inquiries and cherry-picking what he investigated.
• Ward is charged with three counts of indecently assaulting a man at his home in 2013 and one count of sexual intercourse without consent at his apartment in 2015.
• The trial has entered its ninth week, with the defense team concluding their closing address on Monday.

Statistics:

• The trial has lasted for 9 weeks, with the jury expected to retire to consider its verdicts on Tuesday.
• Ward is charged with 4 counts of sexual abuse.
• Both alleged victims are strangers to each other, but knew a woman from the Young Liberals who they both confided in.

Sources:

• The Sydney Morning Herald
• NSW District Court