Rory Amon cleared on eight charges; jury deadlocks on others

A jury in the New South Wales Supreme Court found former state Liberal MP Rory Amon not guilty of four counts of child rape, two counts of attempted child rape and two counts of indecent assault of a child after three days of deliberations. Jurors could not reach verdicts on further charges of rape and indecent assault, and the deadlocked jury was discharged, leaving open the possibility of a second trial.

Amon, 36, kept his eyes downcast and a blank expression as the not-guilty verdicts were returned. He later stepped from the dock grinning and hugged his barrister. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied any criminal conduct, while admitting he met the teenager once for sex in 2017 and denying a second meeting soon after.

He told the court he held an honest and reasonable belief the youth was over 16. The pair met on an adults-only website, moved their discussion to Snapchat and exchanged explicit messages and images.

Australia, New South Wales

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