By The Guardian (World News) | Created at 2024-10-25 02:05:18 | Updated at 2024-10-25 04:21:00
2 hours ago
A high-profile Sydney man has been found not guilty on two counts of rape, with a jury unable to reach a verdict on three other rape charges.
The man was found not guilty on four out of a total nine charges. After 12 days of deliberation, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining five charges, which included three counts of rape against three separate women. The man could now face a second trial on those charges.
The jury – made up of nine men and three women – delivered the verdict on Friday after a six week trial at Sydney’s Downing Centre district court.
The man had pleaded not guilty to nine charges for offences alleged to have occurred over a six-year period against five women on separate occasions.
The man was found not guilty of the allegations of three of the women. The not guilty verdicts were returned against allegations he indecently assaulted a 21-year-old woman after he allegedly touched her bare breast; allegedly raping and occasioning bodily harm against a woman when she was 19 and he in his mid-30s; and allegedly raping another woman when she was 21.
For the remaining two complainants, and one of the two charges alleged by another, the jury was unable to reach a verdict.
This included one charge of rape that a woman alleged occurred when she was 19 and undertaking an internship with the man when he was in his mid-30s. It also included allegations by another woman who told the court when she was 29 the man raped her, and at another point in time allegedly grabbed her by the throat and later threatened to distribute an intimate video of her.
The jury sent a note to Judge Jane Culver on Friday saying it had “reached severe impasse” on coming to a majority verdict on those five charges, and further progress seemed “impossible”.
Guardian Australia understands if the man is to face a second trial on the five charges, it may not take place for another year.
The crown had argued the man had a tendency to carry out sexual conduct with usually much younger women, knowing they did not consent or was reckless to their consent.
The man’s defence had argued that the sex with four women who allege he raped them was consensual, “not in the circumstances alleged by the crown”, and that the complainants “admired the accused, even idolised him”.
During the trial, the five complainants fronted the court to give evidence.
