Ex- Australian Lawmaker Jailed for Over 60 Months for Criminal Acts
One-time Australian politician convicted of attacking two young men he met through work received a sentence to 69 months in prison.
Legal Proceedings
The defendant, forty-four, remained in jail since July after judicial panel convicted him of raping one man and attacking another individual, in multiple events in over two years.
The politician served the seaside community of the regional area in the New South Wales parliament from the year 2011. He left his position as a government official when allegations surfaced in recent years but declined to leave parliament and returned to office in last year.
Court Ruling
Justice Kara Shead took into account the defendant's condition of legal blindness in the judgment and concluded "no other penalty other than detention could be considered".
Ward, who was present via remote connection at Parramatta District Court, will complete at no less than 45 months in detention before he can apply for conditional freedom.
Justice Shead said the judicial system needs to "deliver a strong warning to similar individuals that sexual offendings such as this will be subject to serious punishments".
Additional Information
The judge added the defendant had "escaped justice for multiple years and experienced freedom free from a treatment or punishment for the offenses during that time".
Following the verdict, Ward launched a failed legal bid to remain in government and left office just prior to the congress could expel him.
Defense attorneys has stated earlier he plans to contest the guilty verdict.
Case Facts
His extended court case in the judicial venue learned that he asked a drunk teenager to his home in the first incident and indecently assaulted him three times, despite his attempts to oppose.
Two years later, he attacked a young government employee at his residence after a function at government offices.
He had claimed the 2015 rape never occurred, and that the first victim was misremembering their meeting from the earlier year.
However, prosecutors argued that significant resemblances in the statements of the victims, who were unacquainted with each other, showed they were telling the truth.
The panel considered for multiple days before returning the convictions.
The political exit led to a by-election in his constituency in last fall, which was secured by the challenger.
