Defence accuses ex-detective of bungled investigation into Gareth Ward assault allegations

Australia Broadcast Center

10-07-2025

The former detective who led a sexual assault investigation into New South Wales MP Gareth Ward has come under fire from Mr Ward's counsel for breaching a court order after arriving hours late to give evidence despite being under subpoena.
In March 2022 Mr Ward was charged with three counts of assault with act of indecency – an alternative charge of common assault – involving an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013.
He was also charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent relating to a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015.
Mr Ward has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Former detective senior constable Cameron Bignell failed to return to the witness box by the required 10am start time on Thursday.
When the court resumed after 2pm he admitted, under cross-examination, to breaching his subpoena by arriving hours late.
"I had commitments I could not get out of … and I advised I would be a little bit late," Mr Bignell told the court.
Pressed on why he had not sought permission from the judge the previous day, he said he believed an officer would "handle it" after he explained the situation.
Defence barrister David Campbell SC suggested Mr Bignell had shown disregard for his obligations and disrespect towards the court.
"You defied that order, didn't you?" Mr Campbell asked.
"I did, yes," Mr Bignell replied, before adding, "it certainly was not my intention to be disrespectful."
The former detective said he had been unwell and had intended to get a medical certificate, but did not follow through after deciding to return to court.
Mr Campbell accused the former officer of believing he could choose when to attend.
"This is part of you, isn't it — that you do what you want to do, rather than what you should," Mr Campbell said.
"Absolutely not," Mr Bignell replied.
The defence said that same mindset had marked his handling of the case, which Mr Bignell also rejected.
At one point, Bignell acknowledged telling police he was "happy to get arrested" but said he could not avoid his earlier commitments.
He later described that as "an off-the-cuff comment".
Mr Bignell, who led the investigation from May 2021 until his resignation from NSW Police in 2024, was called to give evidence by the Crown on Wednesday.
He told the court he had reviewed and collected statements from both complainants, key witnesses and conducted a walk-through in Sydney's CBD in September 2021 related to the older complainant's account.
But the defence grilled him on missed opportunities and delays in evidence collection.
Mr Campbell questioned why police had never interviewed a third man who shared the Potts Point apartment with Mr Ward at the time of the alleged 2015 assault.
"It would be rather central to determine whether [the flatmate] was in the lounge room," Mr Campbell said.
"I agree," Mr Bignell responded.
"You can't give us one reason why you didn't task anyone to make that enquiry?" Mr Campbell asked.
"I cannot," the former officer said.
The defence also criticised Mr Bignell's delay in seeking taxi records to verify the younger complainant's claim that Mr Ward paid for his ride home to Meroo Meadow.
Police did not request the records until 2024, by which time the company had changed hands and the data was no longer available.
"That was an unfortunate development, yes," Mr Bignell said.
When asked why he had not spoken to Mr Ward's regular driver, Mr Bignell said he had relied on the complainant's version of events.
The court has heard that Mr Ward, who is legally blind, was known to often rely on a driver for transport.
Mr Campbell also challenged the pace of the investigation, including why the September 2021 walk-through – proposed months earlier – had taken so long to organise.
"Why did it take you so long?" Mr Campbell asked.
"I can't recall — scheduling conflicts," Mr Bignell replied.
"It wasn't the only job I was working on."
Mr Bignell pushed back on suggestions the complainant's movements during the walk-through were inconsistent or unclear and rejected claims he zig-zagged around the streets.
"I think you're exaggerating there," Mr Bignell said.
Mr Bignell is expected to continue being cross-examined tomorrow as the trial, now in its seventh week, continues.