Jury unable to reach unanimous verdicts in ex-MP Roderick ‘Rory’ Amon’s rape trial

WARNING: Distressing content.

A jury has reached verdicts for some counts in the trial of a former NSW Liberal MP accused of raping a 13-year-old boy nearly a decade ago.

But the verdicts have not yet been revealed, as the jury remain unable to reach a decision on two remaining counts.

Roderick ‘Rory’ Amon, then aged 27, met the teen on a gay dating site in 2017.

The former state MP and Northern Beaches councillor did not dispute that he engaged in sexual activity with the boy after they met on the site and exchanged “nude photographs” with him on the social media app Snapchat, but argued the boy told him he was 17.

The complainant said he believed he told Mr Amon at some stage he was 15; however, the former MP claimed the boy told him he was 17.

Mr Amon does not dispute that he guided the boy’s hand to his erect penis over his pants before the boy performed oral sex on him in the carpark bathroom of the teen’s apartment complex where he lived with his family late one evening in July 2017.

Mr Amon previously told the jury he could not recall specific details.

This encounter relates to the first two counts on the indictment, which are indecent assault of a person under the age of 16, and having sexual intercourse with a person aged between 10 and 14.

He has denied that a second alleged encounter took place during which the prosecution alleges he performed oral sex on the teen before attempting to have sex him and further asking the boy to masturbate while he did the same.

This alleged encounter makes up the other eight of the 10 historical child sexual offences Mr Amon has pleaded not guilty to.

‘At an impasse’

The jury sent a note to Acting Justice Robert Allan Hulme on Friday indicating they have been unable to reach unanimous verdicts despite days of deliberation.

“Your Honour, we the jury would like to highlight that we are in the same position as yesterday and find ourselves at an impasse. Various angles of inquiry have been exhausted we seek your direction,” the note read.

Justice Hulme directed the jury to return majority verdicts, meaning only 11 members of the jury need to agree.

Less than an hour later, they advised Mr Hulme they had been able to reach verdicts on the eight counts related to the second alleged encounter.

It is unclear what verdicts they have come to as Justice Hulme has instructed them to continue deliberating on the remaining two counts related to the first incident.

“Ladies and gentlemen what I’m going to ask you to do is in the light of what you’ve said about counts one and two to ask you to continue to deliberate in respect of those two and let me know when either you reach verdicts in respect of those two counts,” Justice Hulme said.

Mr Amon has pleaded not guilty to 10 historical child sexual offences. He has maintained his innocence.

More to come

If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028, the WA Sexual Assault Resource Centre on 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.