Latest news with #NSWDistrictCourt
Perth Now
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Questions over report by MP's alleged sex abuse victim
A lawyer for a state MP has urged a jury to find him not guilty of sexual abuse after criticising the account of one of his accusers as inherently unreliable and unsupported by evidence. Kiama MP Gareth Ward, 44, is on trial in the NSW District Court after pleading not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent and indecent assault charges. He is accused of inviting a drunk 18-year-old man to his South Coast home in February 2013 and indecently assaulting him three times in one night, despite his attempts to resist. Two years later, the long-time MP allegedly sexually assaulted an intoxicated political staffer after a 2015 event at NSW Parliament House. The man, aged 24 at the time, said Ward climbed into bed with him, groped his backside and sexually assaulted him despite him repeatedly saying "no". During his testimony, the complainant was unable to definitively pinpoint the date of the alleged sexual assault but was "fairly certain" it happened in September. In his first complaint to police, Ward's barrister David Campbell SC noted the man estimated it occurred between June and August 2015. The complainant initially said Ward had assaulted him after a welcome drinks at Parliament House during that time, but later claimed it had been after an address by a senior politician. "There is this pervading, inherent unreliability in the recall of (the complainant) as to when this occurred," Mr Campbell said during his closing remarks on Monday. There is also "a very real question" as to whether the alleged offence occurred at Ward's apartment in Potts Point because cell tower records indicated the complainant was in the proximity of Parliament House at the relevant time, he argued. But the crown prosecutor previously submitted the cell tower records are not conclusive proof of where someone was at a given time. Ward's housemate told the jury he had been home on the night of the alleged assault and didn't see the complainant. "Powerful evidence, we respectfully submit, as to where (the man) wasn't rather than where he was," Mr Campbell said. Ward's housemate had not been questioned by the officer in charge, who Mr Campbell accused of "malevolence" and selectively cherry-picking what he wished to investigate. The corrosive effect of time on memory meant uncertainty was rife throughout the complainant's report, Ward's lawyer contended. He claimed the man had exaggerated after disclosing the alleged assault to a friend by telling her he had emailed then-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian's office. The friend then contacted police about the allegations, which Ward's lawyer suggested may have left the complainant stuck between a rock and a hard place. "Could it be the case that (he) has been put into a position where, having brought forward to his friend a story that was not correct, he was caught and had to go on with it?" he asked. "He couldn't say 'well look, nothing happened' because he was at a point of no return due to (his friend's) actions." The crown prosecutor failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt for either of the two complainants, Mr Campbell concluded, telling the jury Ward should be found not guilty on all counts. The jury is expected to retire to consider verdicts on Tuesday. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Bridal shop owner awarded $100,000 after her beloved Shih Tzu Lexi's leg was severed in vicious dog attack
A bridal shop owner has been awarded over $100,000 in damages after her beloved Shih Tzu's leg was severed during a 'terrifying and violent' dog attack. Mary Ioannidis, now 54, was taking her 11-year-old Shih Tzi Lexi for a walk in Mortdale, in Sydney 's south, in April 2020 when the dog was mauled by a large greyhound Staffordshire bull terrier. Lexi's front left leg was completed severed and had to be amputated while her owner suffered various lacerations and abrasion while trying to pull the dogs apart. Ms Ioannidis has since been diagnosed with PTSD and remains traumatised by the attack five years later. She launched proceedings in NSW District Court seeking damages under the Companion Animals Act against Melissa Carretero, the owner of the terrier. Harrowing details of the vicious attack were laid bare when Judge John Catsanos SC handed down his decision on Tuesday. The court heard how the unrestrained terrier ran towards Lexi and was 'throwing her from side to side' as Ms Ioannidis tried desperately to pull her away. 'He kept running back and launching at me and he just kept attacking, and he just didn't stop. He didn't stop, and I was falling over and trying to get on my feet,' Ms Ioannidis was quoted as saying by Judge Catsanos. The greyhound cross 'ripped Lexi's whole paw off at the joint' and bit Ms Ioannidis 'across the neck, her face around the chin, her arm and her legs'. A photo supplied to Daily Mail Australia showed the aftermath of the attack, with Ms Ioannidis seen covered in blood. 'The plaintiff described fingernails being completely ripped off in the chaos of the attack as she was falling over and tripping on the lead, all the time trying not to let go of Lexi,' Judge Catsanos said in his decision, 'By any measure, this was a violent and terrifying attack.' The judge noted that Carretero agreed her dog attacked Lexi, but not Ms Ioannidis. 'In any event, I am comfortably satisfied that as well as being wounded, the plaintiff was attacked by the defendant's dog,' he said. His decision also detailed the psychological impact the attack had on Ms Ioannidis. She struggled to take Lexi for walks, suffers ongoing anxiety while outdoors and now only works at her bridal boutique, Mary Ioannidis Couture, two days a week. 'I am nonetheless satisfied that the plaintiff has suffered some loss of earning capacity as a result of the psychological injury caused by the dog attack,' he said. 'I find that the dog attack caused the plaintiff to suffer psychiatric injury in the form of PTSD. [Ms Ioannidis] suffers a genuine psychiatric condition as a result of the attack.' Ms Ioannidis received $101,788.63 in damages, with Carretero ordered by the judge to pay her legal costs. 'Mary has suffered profound consequences as a result of this attack,' Shine Lawyers associate Brittany Vella told Daily Mail Australia. 'Mary and Lexi were simply out for a walk when they were set upon by an unrestrained dog - an animal which dwarfed Lexi and which would have easily killed her had it not been for Mary's desperate efforts to save her.' 'There's not just the physical injuries, but long-term psychological trauma as well. Lexi died last September due to unknown causes.
Sydney Morning Herald
15-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney woman awarded $101,000 in damages after ‘terrifying' dog attack
A Sydney woman has been awarded more than $100,000 in damages after she was the victim of a 'terrifying and violent' dog attack when she intervened to save her 11-year-old shih tzu from being mauled. Mary Ioannidis launched NSW District Court proceedings against the owner of a greyhound staffordshire bull terrier cross after the incident in Mortdale in Sydney's south in April 2020. Her dog Lexi's front left leg was amputated at the shoulder following the attack. The court heard the larger dog was unrestrained while Lexi was on a retractable lead on a suburban street. The greyhound cross ran towards the shih tzu and was 'throwing her from side to side' as Ioannidis 'tried desperately to pick her up', District Court Judge John Catsanos said in a decision on Tuesday. 'When she finally was able to get Lexi, the defendant's dog continued to attack. In the plaintiff's words: '… he kept running back and launching at me, and he just kept attacking, and he just didn't stop. He didn't stop, and I was falling over and trying to get on my feet'.' The judge said photographs taken immediately after the attack 'show that Lexi's front left leg was completely severed at around the elbow joint and … [Ioannidis] had various lacerations and abrasions, including to her neck, chin and hands'. Loading 'By any measure, this was a violent and terrifying attack,' he said. 'Fortunately, there was a vet nearby and following emergency treatment, which included amputation of the leg at the shoulder, Lexi survived.' Ioannidis, who designs high-end bridal and evening wear, brought a claim for damages under the NSW Companion Animals Act, which provides that the owner of a dog is liable to pay damages for bodily injury to a person, or damage to personal property, caused by their dog during an attack.
The Age
15-07-2025
- The Age
Sydney woman awarded $101,000 in damages after ‘terrifying' dog attack
A Sydney woman has been awarded more than $100,000 in damages after she was the victim of a 'terrifying and violent' dog attack when she intervened to save her 11-year-old shih tzu from being mauled. Mary Ioannidis launched NSW District Court proceedings against the owner of a greyhound staffordshire bull terrier cross after the incident in Mortdale in Sydney's south in April 2020. Her dog Lexi's front left leg was amputated at the shoulder following the attack. The court heard the larger dog was unrestrained while Lexi was on a retractable lead on a suburban street. The greyhound cross ran towards the shih tzu and was 'throwing her from side to side' as Ioannidis 'tried desperately to pick her up', District Court Judge John Catsanos said in a decision on Tuesday. 'When she finally was able to get Lexi, the defendant's dog continued to attack. In the plaintiff's words: '… he kept running back and launching at me, and he just kept attacking, and he just didn't stop. He didn't stop, and I was falling over and trying to get on my feet'.' The judge said photographs taken immediately after the attack 'show that Lexi's front left leg was completely severed at around the elbow joint and … [Ioannidis] had various lacerations and abrasions, including to her neck, chin and hands'. Loading 'By any measure, this was a violent and terrifying attack,' he said. 'Fortunately, there was a vet nearby and following emergency treatment, which included amputation of the leg at the shoulder, Lexi survived.' Ioannidis, who designs high-end bridal and evening wear, brought a claim for damages under the NSW Companion Animals Act, which provides that the owner of a dog is liable to pay damages for bodily injury to a person, or damage to personal property, caused by their dog during an attack.
Perth Now
04-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Major update in pop star's court case
A jury has retired to consider its verdicts in the trial of Guy Sebastian's former manager Titus Day who is alleged to have embezzled over $600,000 from his former client. For the last month, Mr Day has stood trial in the NSW District Court in Sydney where he has battled allegations that he stole from his former friend and the one-time Australian Idol winner. He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of embezzlement as a clerk or servant. It's alleged that Mr Day failed to remit over $620,000 in performance fees and royalties to Mr Sebastian that were collected by his 6 Degrees talent agency. It is alleged he embezzled performance fees, including $187,000 for supporting Taylor Swift on her 2013 tour of Australia, as well as for private weddings, a Big Bash cricket game and corporate events. He has also pleaded not guilty to one count of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception, relating to allegations he deceived the liquidator after his company was placed into liquidation. Titus Day pictured as he arrives at Downing Centre courts in Sydney. NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia During his closing address to the jury, Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC said Mr Day had fabricated invoices to deceive Mr Sebastian. 'The fact that he went to the trouble to create these invoices that were not accurate shows that he knew that he had not honestly accounted to Mr Sebastian for the relevant transactions at the time – that he fraudulently embezzled the money,' Mr Hatfield told the court. 'And that was the reason why he would have done what he did in creating these documents to account for the transactions retrospectively.' Mr Day, through his defence, has claimed that he failed to remit some of the money to Mr Sebastian because of an accounting error and a mistaken belief that the income related to another client. Guy Sebastian leaves the Downing Centre Court. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia He has further claimed he believed he was entitled to hold onto other funds because of unpaid commissions and that he used other money to invest in shares for Mr Sebastian. 'Whenever Mr Day held onto money that had come into the 6 Degrees account, he did it believing he was entitled to do so,' Mr Day's barrister Thomas Woods told the jury in his closing address. 'He is not guilty of any offence of embezzlement.' The court has been told that Mr Day says some accounting errors were the result of family difficulties at the time which resulted in his attention being elsewhere The trial concluded on Wednesday at the conclusion of closing arguments from Mr Day's defence. Following Judge Alister Abadee's summing up on Friday, the jury retired to consider its verdicts on the 35 counts.
