Latest news with #MerooMeadow
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
Friend of alleged assault victim tried to retract police statement: court
The friend of a man who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him when he was a teenager tried to retract his police statement ahead of the criminal trial claiming some of it 'could've been a dream', a jury has heard. 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 has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Mr Ward attended the Darlinghurst District Court on Wednesday as his criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC continued for its sixth week. The second complainant, a man, who had just turned 18 at the time of the alleged assault at Mr Ward's South Coast home in February 2013, finished giving evidence on Friday. His former friend, a man who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave evidence in court on Wednesday, where he was questioned over an email he allegedly sent to the court ahead of the criminal trial. The court was told the man had emailed the court ahead of the trial claiming some of his statement 'could've been a dream', and that detectives had 'grilled him' over two day back in February 2021. 'I was angry and upset about being dragged into the process,' the man said, and later admitted to the prosecutor the claims in the email were not true. The man was also asked about a social media message he received from the complainant which discussed the alleged incident. The alleged victim told his friend that he was 'young and impressionable' when Mr Ward allegedly assaulted him. The friend however told Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles he was never told 'anything that would even come close to being categorised as an assault'. But Ms Knowles put to the man that his friend had disclosed the incident to him, and that it was something he found 'funny', and that he 'joked' that the complainant was 'gay'. 'No … I don't think I ever made that joke,' the man replied, before later admitting it was perhaps 'possible' he made the joke. The court was earlier told how Mr Ward had met the alleged victim three months prior to the alleged assault and they became friends. On the night in question, the complainant had been at a party in the Shoalhaven area before leaving and getting in contact with Mr Ward, who invited him over to his Meroo Meadow home and offered to pay for his taxi ride. The court was told the then-18-year-old and Mr Ward continued drinking together at his home before the teen went outside and laid on the grass, pretending he had passed out as a 'prank'. The man alleged Mr Ward was trying to get his attention and put both hands on him, then without warning put his hand down his pants and touched his buttocks. He told the court he 'froze' and alleged he remembered Mr Ward's 'heavy breathing' as the politician moved his hand to the then teenager's genital area. The man said he then told Mr Ward that he wanted to go to sleep and the pair went back inside, with the politician allegedly telling him that he should not sleep alone. Mr Ward allegedly directed the man towards the MP's bedroom, where the man laid face down on the bed. The alleged victim told the court that Mr Ward 'mounted' him and sat on his buttocks, then started to massage his back. The man told the court the massage eventually ended and they went to sleep. The man said he and Mr Ward maintained contact on a 'social level' before the alleged acts were reported to police in November 2020. 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 continues.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Man who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually assaulted him approached media: court
A man who alleges Kiama MP Gareth Ward sexually abused him when he was a teenager approached media because he wanted to 'get the story out', 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 docks at the Darlinghurst District Court on Tuesday as his criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC continued. The second complainant, a man, who had just turned 18 at the time of the alleged assault at Mr Ward's South Coast home in February 2013, finished giving evidence on Friday. His girlfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court on Tuesday that the man told her that Mr Ward had 'touched him inappropriately' and had 'put his hands down his pants'. 'He was very uncertain about how he should go about seeking help … he didn't know if he should contact police, he was worried about the extent to which that would lead to,' she said. 'He discussed talking to the media and keeping himself anonymous just to get some information out.' The woman said the complainant had reached out to a YouTube personality with his story. 'He wanted to get the story out to the media but he didn't necessarily want his name associated, but he wanted the information to get out because he was worried about other people,' she said. However, after discussing the matter with the YouTube personality, the man ultimately decided it was best to go to the police, the woman told the court. 'I remember saying that he would have a better opportunity with the police given they have resources and that if other people had experienced something similar that they could get help as well,' she said. The court was earlier told how Mr Ward had met the alleged victim three months prior to the alleged assault and they became friends. On the night in question, the complainant had been at a party in the Shoalhaven area before leaving and getting in contact with Mr Ward, who invited him over to his Meroo Meadow home and offered to pay for his taxi ride. The court was told the then-18-year-old and Mr Ward continued drinking together at his home before the teen went outside and laid on the grass, pretending he had passed out as a 'prank'. The man alleged Mr Ward was trying to get his attention and put both hands on him, then without warning put his hand down his pants and touched his buttocks. He told the court he 'froze' and alleged he remembered Mr Ward's 'heavy breathing' as the politician moved his hand to the then teenager's genital area. The man said he then told Mr Ward that he wanted to go to sleep and the pair went back inside, with the politician allegedly telling him that he should not sleep alone. Mr Ward allegedly directed the man towards the MP's bedroom, where the man laid face down on the bed. The alleged victim told the court that Mr Ward 'mounted' him and sat on his buttocks, then started to massage his back. The man told the court the massage eventually ended and they went to sleep. The man said he and Mr Ward maintained contact on a 'social level' before the alleged acts were reported to police in November 2020. 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 before a 15-person jury continues.
ABC News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Gareth Ward sexually touched and pressed his groin against young man, jury hears
NSW MP Gareth Ward allegedly sexually touched and restrained a teenage man during an unwanted massage where the politician allegedly pressed his groin against the younger man's buttocks, a jury has heard. Mr Ward has pleaded not guilty to four charges, including indecent assault against the then-18-year-old man in 2013, when Mr Ward was 31. He has also pleaded not guilty to the charge of sexual intercourse without consent against a second complainant in 2015, when the man was 24. The second complainant told the NSW District Court yesterday that he believed his association with the MP had grown to "friendship" and he was a "mate". On the evening of February 8, 2013, when the assault is alleged to have taken place, the man was feeling low following an issue with his girlfriend at a party. The court heard Mr Ward called him, expressed concern, and offered to pay for a taxi to his home in Meroo Meadow. Continuing his evidence on Wednesday, he told the jury the pair were alone at the house when he laid down on the back lawn and pretended to be passed out as a prank. The man said Mr Ward shook him "a little" and said his name, trying to wake him, as he lay pretending to be passed out. "I was thinking the prank is going well — it's just about over — I was about to say 'gotcha' … and he put his right hand down my pants," the complainant told the court. "I just felt his hand go onto my buttocks and I basically froze … I literally had no idea what to do or how to handle it. He said then opened his eyes and winced because he could not understand what was happening but said he felt "shrivelled up inside" and that it was "the most awkward feeling ever". The court heard Mr Ward then moved his hand towards the front of the man's shorts, making brief contact with his upper thigh and genitals. The complainant said he was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, but not any underpants that night, which he said may have been because his shorts had internal mesh or he had not done any washing. He said what stuck with him was the sensation of Mr Ward's touch, "the feeling of his skin on my skin", and that "he was breathing heavily,". The man said he stood up, said he wanted to go to sleep and walked inside. When they entered the house, he said the MP put his hands on his shoulders and insisted he was "too drunk to sleep alone". He said he felt unable to refuse because admitting he was not that drunk would mean confronting what had just happened outside. While in the bedroom, the complainant alleged Mr Ward straddled him on the bed, sat on his buttocks, with his groin pressing against him, and massaged his lower back. "So, I kind of froze again, and after not too long, I told him to stop. I said, 'I am going to sleep, stop that,' he told the court. The complainant told the court he weighed about 60 kilograms at the time, and Mr Ward was bigger. "He was heavy to move, I couldn't stop him," he said. The complainant told the court he eventually convinced Mr Ward to stop, fell asleep, left the MP's house the next morning and put the incident aside. As he continued to give evidence, the Crown asked why he stayed in touch with Mr Ward after the alleged incidents. The complainant said he believed maintaining the friendship was socially and professionally valuable. He has also been asked to explain drug use at the time, including cocaine and speed, and said it helped him with productivity. The complainant is continuing to give evidence. The trial continues in its fifth week, with today the 17th day of proceedings. The jury has been told the case, originally set down for four weeks, is expected to run for another two weeks.
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
New claims in Kiama MP Gareth Ward's sexual assault trial
A man who alleges he was sexually abused as a teenager by Kiama MP Gareth Ward says a friend thought what had happened was 'funny', 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 has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Mr Ward sat in the dock at the Darlinghurst District Court on Wednesday as his criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC continued, now in its fifth week. The second complainant, a man who had just turned 18 at the time of the alleged assault at Mr Ward's South Coast home in February 2013, took the stand on Wednesday for a second day of evidence. The court was told how Mr Ward had met the alleged victim three months prior in Bomaderry, where they became friends. The court was told that on the night of the alleged assault, the complainant had been at a party in the Shoalhaven area before leaving and getting in contact with Mr Ward, who invited him to his Meroo Meadow home and offered to pay for his taxi ride. It was heard the then-18-year-old and Mr Ward continued drinking together at his home, before the teen went outside and laid on the grass, pretending he had passed out as a 'prank'. 'I could hear that he started running towards me, and I sort of thought, 'This prank is going well … got him',' he told the court. The man alleged Mr Ward was trying to get his attention and put both hands on him, then without warning put his hand down his pants and touched his buttocks. He told the court he 'froze' and alleged he remembered Mr Ward's 'heavy breathing' as the politician moved his hand to the then-teenager's genital area. 'I had no idea what to do or what to say … it was the most awkward feeling I've ever experienced to this day,' he said. The man said he then told Mr Ward he wanted to go to sleep and the pair went back inside, with the politician allegedly telling him he should not sleep alone. 'He put his hands on my shoulders … and said something to the effect of I should sleep in his room because it wasn't safe for me to sleep alone because I was too drunk,' he said. Mr Ward allegedly directed the man towards his bedroom, where he laid down facedown on the bed. The alleged victim told the court Mr Ward 'mounted' him and sat on his buttocks, then started to massage his back. 'He said words to the effect of, 'No relax … I'll give you a massage, I've done a course in massage' or something like that … he said he had some kind of massage training,' he told the court. 'He was massaging my back … especially my lower back … at this time Gareth weighed a far bit … he was heavy on top of me … I couldn't move.' The man told the court the massage eventually ended and they went to sleep. Man told alleged assault was 'funny' The man told the court that in the months following the alleged assault he felt he needed to put the night 'aside' and the whole thing was 'his fault'. 'I very quickly decided that it was a weird thing that happened that was probably my fault and I just needed to put it aside,' he said. 'I needed to put that in the back of my mind and pretend it never happened and go on with being Gareth's bro.' The man said he had discussions with his friend who thought what had happened was 'funny'. 'He sort of said something to the effect of that was obviously going to happen and he was saying that I must be gay for having wanted to go there,' he said. The man said he and Mr Ward maintained contact on a 'social level', before the alleged acts were reported to police in November 2020. 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 before a 15-person jury continues.
ABC News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Gareth Ward 'fixed us drinks' on night of alleged assault, trial hears
The second man to give evidence in the trial of NSW MP Gareth Ward has described how the politician "fixed us drinks" on the night of the alleged assault. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was 17 when he first met Mr Ward at an event in late 2012. In their opening, the Crown alleged Mr Ward indecently assaulted the man, then 18, at his Meroo Meadow home in 2013, including touching his buttocks and scrotum and mounting his back. The independent MP for Kiama and former Liberal minister has pleaded not guilty to charges involving the younger complainant, as well as additional charges, including sexual intercourse without consent, involving an older complainant. Mr Ward denies all allegations. After hearing evidence from the first complainant, the trial continued into its 16th day with testimony from the second. Giving evidence in the NSW District Court from a remote location, the younger complainant described how he met the MP thinking they had become "mates" and their association a "friendship". In February 2013, after a party where he had been drinking and there had been tension with his girlfriend, the complainant said he left feeling low and sat drinking alone. He told the court Mr Ward phoned him, expressed concern and offered to pay for a taxi to his house. Arriving at the Meroo Meadow property, the complainant said the atmosphere was noticeably different to previous gatherings. "I remember being instantly taken aback by how different the vibe was compared to the last time I had been there with a lot of people," he said. The man said they sat at Mr Ward's kitchen bench drinking. "He was fixing us drinks," he said, including what might have been coffee vodka, which was a "fixture in his [Mr Ward's] freezer at the time". The court heard they later moved outside, where the complainant jokingly pretended to pass out on the grass. The trial continues tomorrow, when the younger complainant is expected to give further evidence.
