Convicted sex offender MP takes court defamation defeat
Kiama MP Gareth Ward, 44, was convicted earlier in July in the NSW District Court of sexual intercourse without consent and three indecent assaults.
A day after being denied bail while he waits for sentencing, his defamation lawsuit against radio station 2SM was heard in the NSW District Court.
The nature of the defamation allegations was not revealed in a brief court hearing on Thursday morning, beside that it related to his recent criminal convictions.
Ward's lawyer asked that the defamation case be adjourned until after his sentence hearing on September 19 and while he considers appeal avenues.
But Judge Judith Gibson knocked back that suggestion and removed the case from the court's inactive list, instead setting the matter down for a directions hearing on September 11.
The judge noted that Ward's conviction would be "important" in the proceedings, but added it was unlikely his sentence would be finalised on September 19.
"I don't think that standing it over for close to a month is going to achieve anything much," she told the court.
Lawyers for 2SM indicated they wanted the defamation matter dealt with as soon as possible.
In February 2013, Ward invited a drunk 18-year-old man, whom he met a year before, to his South Coast home.
The man told the jury at trial Ward plied him with drinks before indecently assaulting him three times in one night, despite his attempts to resist.
The long-time MP sexually assaulted an intoxicated political staffer after a mid-week event at NSW Parliament House in 2015.
The man, who was 24 at the time but is now in his 30s, said Ward climbed into bed with him, groped his backside and sexually assaulted him despite him repeatedly saying "no".
NSW Premier Chris Minns on Monday called on the independent MP to resign immediately, saying it would be "ridiculous" for him to continue serving the state after being found guilty of sexual abuse.
The premier said he had received legal advice that the former Liberal could be expelled from parliament if required.
Ward has held the Kiama electorate since 2011, winning three elections under the Liberal banner before securing the 2023 poll as an independent.
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