Senior police witness allegedly fails to appear at Kiama MP Gareth Ward's criminal trial

News.com.au

10-07-2025

The sexual abuse trial of Kiama MP Gareth Ward came to a startling, hours-long halt on Thursday after a senior police witness allegedly failed to appear in court, instead remarking he was 'happy to get arrested'.
Mr Ward, a NSW independent MP, was charged in March 2022 with three counts of assault with act of indecency, an alternative charge of common assault against an 18-year-old man at Meroo Meadow in 2013, and intercourse without consent against a 24-year-old man in Potts Point in 2015.
Since his arrest three years ago, the 43-year-old has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all counts.
His criminal trial has faced several tiresome delays since it first began in May, and Thursday was no different.
Mr Ward and all relevant legal parties as well as the 13-person jury attended the Darlinghurst District Court on Thursday as the criminal trial before Judge Kara Shead SC continued for its seventh week.
However, a senior police witness called by Crown Prosecutor Monika Knowles about 10am seemingly failed to appear, halting proceedings.
About 2pm, when the man had arrived, David Campbell SC asked the former officer if he understood his requirements to appear before the court on Thursday morning, to which the man replied 'yes' he did understand, but admitted that 'no, he did not attend'.
'I apologise for the inconvenience I had commitments I could not get out of this morning at 10am … and I advised I would be a bit late,' the former officer said.
'It certainly wasn't my intention to be disrespectful or to disobey that order.'
The court was told the man had discussions with another police officer who he believed would advise the court of his unavailability on his behalf.
He was then told by the police officer that he would need to obtain a medical certificate, which he said he was willing to do given he had been 'quite unwell'.
Mr Campbell put to the man that he told another officer words to the effect that he was 'happy to get arrested' and that he 'simply couldn't move the meetings over'.
'I did make an off the cuff comment to that nature,' he replied.
It was suggested by Mr Campbell the officer 'did what he wanted to do' instead of 'what he should do'.
'Absolutely not,' the man said.
The former officer's evidence is expect to continue on Thursday afternoon.
The allegations against Mr Ward were first reported to police in November 2020.
He is alleged of assaulting a man, who had just turned 18 at the time of the alleged assault at Mr Ward's South Coast home in February 2013.
It is also alleged the MP sexually assaulted another man – who was 24 years old at the time – at his Potts Point apartment in September 2015.
Beginning his political career in 2011, Mr Ward was a councillor on the Shoalhaven Council before becoming the Liberal member for Kiama in 2011, a seat he has held since.
The trial before a 13-person jury continues.