Former NSW MP Acquitted on Majority of Sexual Offence Charges
A New South Wales Supreme Court jury has acquitted former Liberal MP Rory Amon of eight charges related to alleged sexual offences against a 13-year-old boy in 2017. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two remaining charges, leading to a hung jury on those counts. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will now determine whether to pursue a retrial.
The Charges and Verdict
Rory Amon, 36, pleaded not guilty to a total of 10 charges. Following over a week of deliberations, the jury returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts on eight charges.
These included:
- Four counts of having sexual intercourse with a person aged 10 to 14.
- Two counts of attempted sexual intercourse with a person aged 10 to 14.
- Two counts of indecent assault of a person under 16.
These eight charges were related to an alleged second meeting, which Mr. Amon denied ever occurred.
The jury was unable to reach a verdict, including a majority verdict, on two charges stemming from an initial alleged meeting on July 22, 2017. These charges are:
- One count of indecent assault of a person under 16.
- One count of having sexual intercourse with a person aged 10 to 14.
Key Allegations and Testimony
The court heard that the complainant was 13 years old in mid-2017 when he and Mr. Amon, then aged 27, connected via online platforms. The Crown alleged the pair communicated on a dating app and Snapchat before meeting in person.
The Complainant's Account:
The complainant, now 22, testified that he misrepresented his age online due to platform age restrictions. He stated he told Mr. Amon he was 15. He alleged two sexual encounters occurred in an underground car park bathroom at his Sydney apartment complex. He testified that during a second alleged meeting, he felt "grossed out" and wanted the activity to stop.
Mr. Amon's Testimony:
Mr. Amon testified that he believed the youth was 17 years old at the time of their contact. He stated he met the individual once, on July 22, 2017, and did not dispute that sexual activity occurred during that meeting. He firmly denied allegations of a second meeting.
Arguments Presented in Court
Crown Prosecution:
Crown Prosecutor Meaghan Fleeton argued that Mr. Amon could not have held an honest and reasonable belief that the boy was over the age of consent (16). The prosecution contended that the nature of the online interaction and the conditions of the meeting should have indicated the youth's age.
"The law does not recognise the consent of a child as a defence," the prosecution stated.
Defence Case:
Defence barrister Matthew Johnston SC argued that Mr. Amon held an honest and reasonable belief the teenager was 17. The defence noted that both parties used anonymity online and that the platforms required users to be 18 or older. Mr. Johnston suggested the complainant may have misrepresented his age and questioned the reliability of his testimony regarding the timeline of events.
Evidence Presented
During the trial, the jury was shown:
- Bank statements, text messages, and toll records from July 22, 2017.
- Evidence that Mr. Amon had refereed rugby matches in Canberra earlier on the day of the alleged meeting.
- Evidence that Mr. Amon reconnected with the alleged victim on a dating app in 2022, sending messages that included a photograph.
Background and Political Impact
At the time of the alleged 2017 incidents, Mr. Amon was employed by federal MP Jason Falinski. He later served on the Northern Beaches Council and was elected as the Liberal MP for Pittwater in the NSW parliament in March 2023.
Mr. Amon was arrested in August 2024. Following his arrest, he was expelled from the Liberal Party and resigned from his parliamentary seat. A subsequent by-election resulted in the Liberal Party losing the Pittwater seat to an independent.
Next Steps
With the jury discharged on the two hung charges, the New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will now consider whether to seek a retrial on those counts.