An 18-year-old man has been found not guilty on all four counts of sexual assault following a jury trial at Campbelltown District Court, after the defence team led by Steven Mercael demonstrated that the evidence did not support the allegations. The defence submitted from the outset that the evidence of witnesses, CCTV footage, secretly recorded phone calls with the accused and police evidence made it clear that an innocent man was on trial.
The Allegations
The client had faced multiple counts of sexual assault of a child, allegations that carried extremely serious potential penalties and lifelong consequences. Despite the absence of any reliable or corroborative evidence, the matter proceeded to a District Court trial before a jury.
The Defence Case
Throughout the proceedings, Mr Mercael and his team conducted a comprehensive review of every aspect of the prosecution case — including inconsistencies in statements, the timing of key events, and the reliability of witness recollections.
“Our approach was to let the evidence — or lack of it — speak for itself,” said Mr Mercael. “From the start, it was clear that the material before the court did not support a finding of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. I have never been more confident of my client’s innocence, and the verdict has proven that”
The Verdict
After hearing several days of testimony and closing submissions, the jury retired for less than three hours before returning not-guilty verdicts on all four counts.
The outcome completely cleared the 18-year-old client of all allegations, allowing him to move forward with his life free of a criminal record or the stigma of the charges.
Lawyer’s Comment
Following the decision, Mr Mercael said:
“The jury’s verdict was emphatic and entirely justified. Our client maintained his innocence from day one, and the evidence ultimately supported that position. This case underscores the importance of rigorous preparation and the presumption of innocence that lies at the heart of our justice system. The DPP should never have taken this to trial and put our client through the stress and anxiety of a 2-year ordeal. Our client spent 2 months in custody for a crime he did not commit before changing to our team who obtained bail in the Supreme Court.”
Facing Serious Criminal Allegations?
Allegations of sexual assault are among the most serious charges a person can face. These matters require careful preparation, experienced advocacy, and a defence team that knows how to test the evidence at every stage.
At Criminal Lawyers Group, Steven Mercael and his team have extensive experience defending complex and high-stakes criminal matters across New South Wales — from Local Court hearings to District Court jury trials.
📞 Call (02) 8815 8177
📧 Email: info@criminallawyersgroup.com.au
🌐 Visit: www.criminallawyersgroup.com.au
Criminal Lawyers Group — standing beside you from charge to acquittal.