Ex- Down Under Public Figure Imprisoned for Over Five Years for Sexual Offenses
One-time Australian politician sentenced of attacking two individuals he met through his position has been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison.
Trial Information
The former official, mid-forties, was in custody since mid-year after a jury found him guilty of attacking a victim and attacking another, in different occasions in 2013 and 2015.
Ward represented the coastal town of Kiama in the state parliament from the year 2011. He left his position as a Liberal Party cabinet member when accusations emerged in recent years but declined to leave parliament and won again in last year.
Court Ruling
Judge the court official considered Ward's disability of vision impairment in the ruling and concluded "no different consequence besides imprisonment is appropriate".
Ward, who was present via digital means at the judicial venue, will serve at least nearly four years in custody before he can apply for early release.
The judge stated the legal system needs to "deliver a strong warning to similar individuals that illegal behaviors such as this will be met with salutary penalties".
Further Details
She also said the defendant had "avoided punishment for multiple years and enjoyed a life free from a programme or penalty for the offenses during that period".
Post-trial, Ward initiated a rejected appeal attempt to remain in his position and resigned shortly before the legislature could remove him.
His legal team has previously said he intends to challenge the conviction.
Incident Details
The defendant's extended court case in the judicial venue heard that he brought a drunk teenager to his home in 2013 and attacked him repeatedly, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.
Subsequently, he attacked a young government employee at his residence after a function at the legislature.
Ward had claimed the 2015 rape never occurred, and that the additional accuser was misremembering their encounter from the earlier year.
The state's attorneys maintained that significant resemblances in the testimonies of the individuals, who did not know one another, demonstrated they were being honest.
Court members debated for three days before delivering the convictions.
His departure caused a replacement vote in the district in last fall, which was claimed by the opposition party.
