Not guilty of indecent assaults

A man has been cleared of assaulting and kissing a woman without her consent.

Yesterday, following two days of evidence, a New Plymouth District Court jury found Aaron Ross West not guilty of two charges of indecent assault and two of male assaults female.

West had denied the allegations, which related to an incident between him and the complainant in the early hours of February 17, 2017. His trial began on Tuesday.

The court heard how after a night out socialising at Icons Sports Bar and Cafe, the pair – who were known to each other – returned to West’s home in a taxi. However, the complainant then alleged West pushed her onto the bed and kissed her. She said in her evidence that when she stood up to leave the accused pushed her back down, pulled up her top and kissed her stomach.

But West, who gave evidence in his defence, said kissing had been consensual and that it had been initiated by the complainant.

Following closing submissions and Judge Stephen Harrop’s summing up of the case, the jury of six men and six women retired to consider their verdicts. It took them about 60 minutes to reach its unanimous decisions, which were read out to the court by the foreman. West was visibly relieved at the result and near tears as he left the courtroom after being discharged. After the verdicts were given, Judge Harrop thanked the jury for their service.