Jury discharged in sex abuse trial of Petford Training Farm founder Geoff Guest
Warning: This article contains details of alleged child abuse that some readers may find distressing.
During a week-long trial in the District Court in Cairns, a jury was told by the prosecution that Geoffrey John Guest repeatedly and violently sexually abused a teenage boy in the 1970s.
Mr Guest gave evidence in his defence, telling the court the allegations were untrue and that he was not a violent person.
He pleaded not guilty to one count of unlawful carnal knowledge, four counts of unlawful and indecent dealings with a child, and one count of repeated sexual conduct against a child under 16.
Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald told the court Mr Guest would regularly beat the teenage boy with closed fists and a leather strap.
Two witnesses, who were also teenagers at the time, gave evidence about Mr Guest's violent behaviour, including that his "whole demeanour changed when other people were there".
Mr Guest received widespread recognition, including an Order of Australia Medal, for his work during the 1980s and 1990s with mostly Indigenous youth at his Petford Training Farm.
The complainant, now aged in his 60s, first disclosed the alleged sexual abuse in 2009 after he broke down to his partner while watching television current affairs program 60 Minutes that covered Mr Guest's work with troubled youth.
In 2012, the complainant made a statement to police, which was signed a decade later, the court heard.
In her closing address, Ms Friedewald told the court the complainant told the truth and volunteered details that would have been sensitive and embarrassing to reveal.
Defence lawyer Kelly Goodwin said the abuse did not happen and pointed to inconsistencies in the complainant's recollection of events.
Eleven men gave character evidence in Mr Guest's defence during the trial, including three who spent time at Petford as boys, a documentary filmmaker, and a psychiatrist who spent time with Mr Guest while researching his doctorate.
Each told the court they had not seen Mr Guest use violence or behave sexually toward children.
The jury retired to consider its verdict on Wednesday afternoon.
After more than 14 hours of deliberations, Judge Tracy Fantin issued the jury a direction informing them that enough time had passed, allowing them to return a majority verdict, in which 11 of the 12 jurors were in agreement.
However, despite an hour of further deliberation, the jury was still unable to reach a verdict on any of the six charges.
Judge Fantin discharged the 12 jurors on Friday, after they told her they did not believe they would reach a verdict even if given more time.
"Thank you for your service; thank you for the diligence with which you have approached this task," Judge Fantin told the jurors.
Mr Guest's bail was extended, with the case to be listed for mention next month.
"At that time, if the Crown seeks a new trial listing, it will be given a new trial," Judge Fantin said.
"Whether that is this year or next is not clear."
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