Recently returned Kiama MP Gareth Ward will face one trial in a Sydney court on sexual assault allegations after a judge rejected a bid to have the allegations separated.
Mr Ward, 42, an ex-Liberal turned independent, has pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent, three counts of indecent assault and one of common assault.
It’s alleged Mr Ward indecently assaulted a 17-year-old at his home on the NSW south coast and had non-consensual sexual intercourse with a 25-year-old man at his Potts Point apartment in inner Sydney.
He retained the Kiama seat at the March NSW election after being suspended from parliament following charges laid.
His trial was expected to last about three weeks, Judge John Pickering said in the NSW District Court on Thursday.
The judge granted a motion to have the trial held in Sydney and rejected another motion to have charges separated and dealt with in different trials in Sydney and Nowra on the south coast.
“There must be a joint trial, and there will be,” Judge Pickering said.
“Overwhelmingly in my view it is in the interest of justice for the trial to come to Sydney.”
The trial could be more easily accommodated and quicker in Sydney, the judge said.
A trial date will be set “as soon as possible”, even as soon as Thursday afternoon.
Mr Ward was not required to appear in court, being represented by a lawyer via audiovisual link.
– AAP
