Previous Australian Lawmaker Sentenced for More Than 60 Months for Criminal Acts
An ex- lawmaker convicted of attacking two young men he met through work has been sentenced to nearly six years in jail.
Trial Information
The defendant, 44, remained in jail since last summer after the court determined his guilt of raping one man and attacking a second person, in multiple events in 2013 and 2015.
The defendant acted for the coastal town of the district in the New South Wales government from over a decade ago. He resigned as a government minister when allegations came to light in 2021 but declined to leave the legislature and was re-elected in 2023.
Court Ruling
Justice the court official took into account the defendant's condition of vision impairment in the judgment and found "no alternative punishment besides imprisonment is appropriate".
The defendant, who was present via digital means at the courthouse, will complete at minimum nearly four years in custody before he can apply for conditional freedom.
Justice Shead declared the legal system needs to "deliver a strong warning to like-minded offenders that illegal behaviors of this nature will be faced with significant consequences".
Additional Information
The judge added Ward had "evaded consequences for a decade and experienced freedom free from a rehabilitation program or consequence for the offenses during those years".
Following the verdict, Ward attempted a rejected court challenge to remain in his position and resigned just prior to the legislature could expel him.
His legal team has stated earlier he plans to challenge the guilty verdict.
Case Facts
His nine-week trial in the judicial venue was told that he brought a drunk young adult to his home in 2013 and attacked him repeatedly, despite the victim's efforts to resist.
Subsequently, he raped a 24-year-old office worker at his property after a function at government offices.
Ward had maintained the 2015 rape was fabricated, and that the first victim was misremembering their encounter from the earlier year.
But the prosecution argued that significant resemblances in the testimonies of the individuals, who had no connection to one another, demonstrated they were accurate in their accounts.
The panel considered for 72 hours before delivering the guilty verdicts.
Ward's resignation prompted a by-election in Kiama in autumn, which was secured by the opposition party.
