‘On the DL': Message to journo about MP
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.
Since his arrest three years ago, the 43-year-old has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all counts. Gareth Ward has pleaded not guilty to all counts. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia
Mr Ward attended the Darlinghurst District Court on Tuesday as his criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC continued for its seventh week.
Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles called an ABC journalist to the stand on Tuesday who said he had conversations about Mr Ward with the second complainant.
The alleged victim, a man, who had just turned 18 at the time of the alleged assault at Mr Ward's South Coast home in February 2013, cannot be named for legal reasons.
The journalist told the court that he had previously met the complainant through mutual friends in the Illawarra region before later receiving a social media message from him in late 2020, prompted by a tweet about Mr Ward.
'From memory he saw the tweet then messaged me on Instagram about it,' the journalist told the court.
'It was … hey I'd like to talk to you about Gareth Ward on the DL if possible.'
The pair later met up, where the complainant disclosed the allegations to the journalist.
'He sort of stepped me through what he said happened,' he told the court.
'They drank some alcohol together and he said he was very intoxicated … he was laying on the grass and playing around at which point he alleged that Mr Ward touched him on the genitals.'
The man's demeanour was 'pretty sober' and 'matter of fact' when discussing the allegations, the reporter told the court. Gareth Ward has been charged with historical sexual abuse. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia
'I sensed that he was kind of processing it as well as he was talking about it … it didn't seem like something he had spoken about a lot,' he said.
The man was 'really unsure' what to do, the journalist said.
'It was still a bit unclear if he wanted to do a story … but given I was a journalist I think he wanted to at least talk about it.'
The reporter recommended the man report the matter to police, which he eventually did, and Mr Ward was formally charged in 2022.
It is also alleged Mr Ward sexually assaulted another man – who was 24 years old at the time – at his Potts Point apartment in September 2015.
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, which has been delayed several times since it first began in late May, continues.
How to report sexual assault
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
ABC News apologises over on-air AFL blunder
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News. An ABC News presenter has been forced to apologise to viewers after the program aired the wrong story. Presenter Ruby Cornish addressed viewers after a series of sports stories aired including an AFL report 'from a week ago' on Thursday night. Cornish initially read a headline in relation to a Collingwood member who was banned for five years over a 'highly inappropriate and threatening text message' aimed at the embattled Carlton coach Michael Voss. ABC presenter Ruby Cornish apologised to viewers on Thursday evening. Picture: Supplied. She revealed that an AFL investigation found a member of a rival club was behind the vile threat. However, the program then aired a video package from last week regarding Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick taking aim at the AFL in the wake of a league-wide change to umpire contact. The clip discussed the AFL's announcement that players hit with a fourth or subsequent careless umpire contact charge within the past two seasons will likely be sent straight to the tribunal. As the bulletin came to an end, Cornish swiftly addressed viewers at home who may have been left baffled by the mistake. ABC meant to air a video about Michael Voss on Thursday. Picture: Getty. Instead, ABC News aired a video package about Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick taking aim at the AFL. Picture: Supplied. 'Before we move on, just a quick apology,' began the reporter. 'A very short time ago, we played you an AFL story, which is actually from a week ago. 'That is not today's news,' she added. Earlier, Head of AFL integrity and security Tony Keane said no coach, player, official, staff member or fan should feel unsafe while at a game. 'The anti-social hotline at venues is designed to ensure everyone attending the match can do so in a safe and inclusive manner, and the majority of times this service is used appropriately,' he said. 'We understand there is passion in the game; however, the text message in question sent to the MCG hotline on Friday crossed the line. 'Regardless of the intent, no coach, player, official, staff member or fan deserves to be threatened in such a way, and now that patron has lost the privilege of attending the footy.' Originally published as ABC News apologises over on-air AFL blunder
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Defence accuses ex-detective of bungled investigation into Gareth Ward assault allegations
The former detective who led a sexual assault investigation into New South Wales MP Gareth Ward has come under fire from Mr Ward's counsel for breaching a court order after arriving hours late to give evidence despite being under subpoena. In March 2022 Mr Ward was charged with three counts of assault with act of indecency – an alternative charge of common assault – involving an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013. He was also charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent relating to a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015. Mr Ward has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Former detective senior constable Cameron Bignell failed to return to the witness box by the required 10am start time on Thursday. When the court resumed after 2pm he admitted, under cross-examination, to breaching his subpoena by arriving hours late. "I had commitments I could not get out of … and I advised I would be a little bit late," Mr Bignell told the court. Pressed on why he had not sought permission from the judge the previous day, he said he believed an officer would "handle it" after he explained the situation. Defence barrister David Campbell SC suggested Mr Bignell had shown disregard for his obligations and disrespect towards the court. "You defied that order, didn't you?" Mr Campbell asked. "I did, yes," Mr Bignell replied, before adding, "it certainly was not my intention to be disrespectful." The former detective said he had been unwell and had intended to get a medical certificate, but did not follow through after deciding to return to court. Mr Campbell accused the former officer of believing he could choose when to attend. "This is part of you, isn't it — that you do what you want to do, rather than what you should," Mr Campbell said. "Absolutely not," Mr Bignell replied. The defence said that same mindset had marked his handling of the case, which Mr Bignell also rejected. At one point, Bignell acknowledged telling police he was "happy to get arrested" but said he could not avoid his earlier commitments. He later described that as "an off-the-cuff comment". Mr Bignell, who led the investigation from May 2021 until his resignation from NSW Police in 2024, was called to give evidence by the Crown on Wednesday. He told the court he had reviewed and collected statements from both complainants, key witnesses and conducted a walk-through in Sydney's CBD in September 2021 related to the older complainant's account. But the defence grilled him on missed opportunities and delays in evidence collection. Mr Campbell questioned why police had never interviewed a third man who shared the Potts Point apartment with Mr Ward at the time of the alleged 2015 assault. "It would be rather central to determine whether [the flatmate] was in the lounge room," Mr Campbell said. "I agree," Mr Bignell responded. "You can't give us one reason why you didn't task anyone to make that enquiry?" Mr Campbell asked. "I cannot," the former officer said. The defence also criticised Mr Bignell's delay in seeking taxi records to verify the younger complainant's claim that Mr Ward paid for his ride home to Meroo Meadow. Police did not request the records until 2024, by which time the company had changed hands and the data was no longer available. "That was an unfortunate development, yes," Mr Bignell said. When asked why he had not spoken to Mr Ward's regular driver, Mr Bignell said he had relied on the complainant's version of events. The court has heard that Mr Ward, who is legally blind, was known to often rely on a driver for transport. Mr Campbell also challenged the pace of the investigation, including why the September 2021 walk-through – proposed months earlier – had taken so long to organise. "Why did it take you so long?" Mr Campbell asked. "I can't recall — scheduling conflicts," Mr Bignell replied. "It wasn't the only job I was working on." Mr Bignell pushed back on suggestions the complainant's movements during the walk-through were inconsistent or unclear and rejected claims he zig-zagged around the streets. "I think you're exaggerating there," Mr Bignell said. Mr Bignell is expected to continue being cross-examined tomorrow as the trial, now in its seventh week, continues.
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
Senior police witness allegedly fails to appear at Kiama MP Gareth Ward's criminal trial
The sexual abuse trial of Kiama MP Gareth Ward came to a startling, hours-long halt on Thursday after a senior police witness allegedly failed to appear in court, instead remarking he was 'happy to get arrested'. Mr Ward, a 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. Since his arrest three years ago, the 43-year-old has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all counts. His criminal trial has faced several tiresome delays since it first began in May, and Thursday was no different. Mr Ward and all relevant legal parties as well as the 13-person jury attended the Darlinghurst District Court on Thursday as the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC continued for its seventh week. However, a senior police witness called by Crown Prosecutor Monika Knowles about 10am seemingly failed to appear, halting proceedings. About 2pm, when the man had arrived, David Campbell SC asked the former officer if he understood his requirements to appear before the court on Thursday morning, to which the man replied 'yes' he did understand, but admitted that 'no, he did not attend'. 'I apologise for the inconvenience I had commitments I could not get out of this morning at 10am … and I advised I would be a bit late,' the former officer said. 'It certainly wasn't my intention to be disrespectful or to disobey that order.' The court was told the man had discussions with another police officer who he believed would advise the court of his unavailability on his behalf. He was then told by the police officer that he would need to obtain a medical certificate, which he said he was willing to do given he had been 'quite unwell'. Mr Campbell put to the man that he told another officer words to the effect that he was 'happy to get arrested' and that he 'simply couldn't move the meetings over'. 'I did make an off the cuff comment to that nature,' he replied. It was suggested by Mr Campbell the officer 'did what he wanted to do' instead of 'what he should do'. 'Absolutely not,' the man said. The former officer's evidence is expect to continue on Thursday afternoon. The allegations against Mr Ward were first reported to police in November 2020. He is alleged of assaulting a man, who had just turned 18 at the time of the alleged assault at Mr Ward's South Coast home in February 2013. It is also alleged the MP sexually assaulted another man – who was 24 years old at the time – at his Potts Point apartment in September 2015. 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 13-person jury continues.
