VIC CAS Indecent Act - Not Guilty at Trial
ADLA member for - VIC
Written by
Josh Taaffe
Criminal Defence Lawyer
Sexual Offences
A Case Study: Indecent Act - Not Guilty at Trial
Date: 01/09/2009
18624
The Name of the Offence
Indecent Act with a child under 16
Place of the event
Melbourne
The court attended
Melbourne County Court
Acting Solicitor: Josh Taaffe
Facts of the Case
Allegations were made by the accused's young step-sister that he had committed indecent acts on her. Josh Taaffe represented the accused at committal and at trial in the County Court. The allegations were made in the context of ongoing custody issues between the parents of the complainant.
The offending was alleged to have occurred in the most public areas of the house, when it could easily have been discovered. Many of the alleged features of the offending were bizarre and made no sense. These aspects were highlighted in cross-examination and the closing address. The accused gave evidence and denied the offences.
Results Achieved
The Jury returned their verdict in 40 minutes and the accused was found not guilty of all charges.
