Three Counts of Sexual Penetration Without Consent – Unanimous Acquittals on All Charges

Our client, a young man with no prior convictions, was charged with three counts of Sexual Penetration Without Consent contrary to s 325(1) of the Criminal Code (WA). Each offence carried a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.

The allegations were firmly denied from the outset and the matter proceeded to a four-day jury trial in the District Court of Western Australia.

 From the moment he was retained, Mr Chris Sheehy remained committed to proving his client's innocence. Over many months, he undertook extensive preparation to ensure that every aspect of the prosecution case was properly tested and that all available evidence was identified and preserved.

 Mr Sheehy's work included contested pre-trial applications, strategic use of subpoenas, detailed disclosure requests and a range of investigative steps directed towards uncovering evidence relevant to the defence case. Throughout the proceedings, he pursued every available avenue to ensure that the jury would have access to all relevant evidence when determining the allegations.

 The matter ultimately proceeded to a four-day jury trial, where Mr Sheehy conducted the defence and invited the jury to reject the allegations and return verdicts consistent with his client's innocence.

 Following deliberations, the jury returned unanimous verdicts of Not Guilty on all three counts.

 The verdicts brought an end to allegations and allowed the client to move forward with his life free from the charges.

 This result reflects the importance of early preparation, strategic case management and a steadfast commitment to proving a client's innocence when defending serious criminal allegations.