Split Verdict for Ex-MP After Three Days of Jury Deliberations
Former Liberal MP Rory Amon walked out of a Sydney courtroom acquitted of eight serious charges involving a 13-year-old boy — but his legal ordeal may be far from over. A jury cleared Amon on Monday of four counts of child rape, two counts of attempted child rape, and two counts of indecent assault after three days of deliberations. The verdict hinged on Amon's testimony that he held an "honest and reasonable belief" the teen was over 16, the age of consent in New South Wales.
The Defense That Worked — And What It Means
The jury's acceptance of Amon's age-mistake defense represents a narrow legal pathway that requires jurors to believe the defendant genuinely and reasonably believed the alleged victim was above the age of consent. Prosecutors had alleged incidents occurred in locations including a Sydney car park bathroom, but the jury was evidently persuaded by Amon's testimony about his perception of the boy's age. The split verdict — acquittal on some charges while others remain unresolved — creates the unusual scenario where Amon could face a second trial on remaining counts.
Legal Precedent and Political Fallout
The case carries weight beyond Amon's personal fate. Australian courts have historically treated age-mistake defenses with skepticism in cases involving minors, particularly when age gaps are substantial. The jury's decision to credit Amon's testimony suggests they found his belief both subjectively genuine and objectively reasonable under the circumstances — a high bar that prosecutors struggled to overcome. Amon resigned from his Liberal Party position when charges were first filed, and the party has maintained distance from the case throughout proceedings.
What Happens Next
The Guardian reports that unresolved charges could trigger a second trial, though prosecutors must now weigh whether pursuing remaining counts is viable after the jury's wholesale rejection of the rape and attempted rape allegations. The split verdict creates prosecutorial headwinds: if jurors found Amon's age-mistake defense credible enough to acquit on the most serious charges, securing convictions on lesser remaining counts becomes exponentially harder. Amon's legal team will likely argue that the acquittals demonstrate fundamental weaknesses in the Crown's case that should preclude further prosecution.