Gareth Ward, a sitting member of the New South Wales Parliament, was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape involving two victims. Despite resigning from his ministerial position and the Liberal Party, Ward was re-elected in 2023. The jury's decision came after a thorough trial that revealed striking similarities in the victims' testimonies. Ward is set to face sentencing later this year.
New South Wales Politician Gareth Ward Convicted of Sexual Assault and Rape
New South Wales Politician Gareth Ward Convicted of Sexual Assault and Rape
A jury in New South Wales has found Gareth Ward guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault and rape involving two young men he met through political circles.
Gareth Ward, a member of the New South Wales state parliament, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two young men, marking a significant moment in Australian political accountability. A jury concluded that Ward was guilty of three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape, following a trial that extended over nine weeks and involved intensive witness testimonies. The assaults occurred between 2013 and 2015 in Ward's home after he met both victims through political activities.
The details of the case illustrated a troubling narrative, with one victim, an 18-year-old at the time, describing repeated assaults in 2013 when he was invited over while intoxicated. The second assault involved the rape of a political staff member in 2015 after a parliamentary event. Throughout the trial, Ward maintained his innocence, denying the rape allegation and suggesting that the other complainant was misremembering the events from 2013.
Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles asserted the credibility of the victims, emphasizing the similarities in their experiences—even though the two did not know each other. She argued, "Similar behaviour, similar setting, same man, same conclusion. This is not a coincidence." The jury deliberated for three days before reaching their verdict, underscoring the gravity of the matter.
Following the emergence of these allegations in 2021, Ward resigned from his ministerial position and the Liberal Party but opted to remain in parliament. In a surprising turn of events, he was re-elected as a representative for Kiama in 2023 despite the legal proceedings against him. The New South Wales government had deliberated on expelling Ward from parliament; however, legal advice suggested that taking such action could potentially harm the ongoing trial.
Ward is expected to return to court later this year for sentencing, as this case continues to raise questions about accountability and integrity within Australian politics.
The details of the case illustrated a troubling narrative, with one victim, an 18-year-old at the time, describing repeated assaults in 2013 when he was invited over while intoxicated. The second assault involved the rape of a political staff member in 2015 after a parliamentary event. Throughout the trial, Ward maintained his innocence, denying the rape allegation and suggesting that the other complainant was misremembering the events from 2013.
Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles asserted the credibility of the victims, emphasizing the similarities in their experiences—even though the two did not know each other. She argued, "Similar behaviour, similar setting, same man, same conclusion. This is not a coincidence." The jury deliberated for three days before reaching their verdict, underscoring the gravity of the matter.
Following the emergence of these allegations in 2021, Ward resigned from his ministerial position and the Liberal Party but opted to remain in parliament. In a surprising turn of events, he was re-elected as a representative for Kiama in 2023 despite the legal proceedings against him. The New South Wales government had deliberated on expelling Ward from parliament; however, legal advice suggested that taking such action could potentially harm the ongoing trial.
Ward is expected to return to court later this year for sentencing, as this case continues to raise questions about accountability and integrity within Australian politics.
