Sexual Assault & Harassment Defence Lawyer

Case Study – Charges Dropped Due to Inconsistent Evidence

The Incident

Blaxland Law represented a senior business executive falsely accused of sexual intercourse without consent by a former employee. The alleged incident was said to have occurred during after-work drinks, though no complaint was made at the time. Months later, following the breakdown of their working relationship and the woman’s difficulty securing new employment, she made a formal complaint to police. Despite the lack of corroborating evidence and the significant delay, our client was charged based solely on her statement.

Legal Action Taken

Our legal team issued subpoenas to uncover material critical to the defence—including the woman’s employment records, civil litigation files, phone communications, and NSW Police notes. Upon review, we identified serious credibility issues, including undisclosed messages in which the woman thanked our client the day after the alleged assault. Additional material revealed an ulterior motive to use the criminal process to strengthen her civil claims. We prepared persuasive legal submissions and strategically resisted attempts by the prosecution to delay proceedings, pushing for early resolution in the Local Court.

Outcome

Thanks to Blaxland Law’s intervention, the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charges before the matter reached trial. Our client was spared the stress, cost, and reputational harm of a jury trial. This case underscores the importance of early and thorough defence work in uncovering the truth and protecting innocent clients from wrongful prosecution.