Brett Stewart found not guilty of sexual assault
Rugby league star Brett Stewart has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl.
Stewart, 25, pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault and a charge of sexual intercourse without consent over allegations he tongue-kissed and digitally penetrated the girl.
The alleged assault occurred outside Stewart's Manly home on March 6 last year, after he caught a taxi home following the Sea Eagles' season launch.
The teenager, who cannot be named, told the court she had been smoking outside the townhouse complex when a man she recognised from television - but whose name she did not know - got out of a taxi.
"I remember saying to him, 'You've been drinking, haven't you?"' she told the court.
The girl said that after some conversation, the man looked around then "just leant in and kissed me. I pushed him away then he came in again and put his tongue in my mouth."
The man allegedly put his hand up her shorts and touched her.
The court heard the teen had been diagnosed with a mental illness. But the Crown prosecutor, Peter Skinner, told the jury there was absolutely no reason for her to have made up such a story.
In his own testimony, Stewart said the girl made advances towards him. He said she had approached him, asking "Are you Brett Stewart?" and if she had seen him on TV. He said he resisted when she tried to kiss him and denied making unlawful advances or forcing himself on her in any way.
The courtroom was so packed during the two-week trial that observers were sprawled on the stairs between the seats of the public gallery.
Manly team mates Anthony Watmough and David "Wolfman" Williams were among those who turned up to support Stewart while high-profile witnesses, including Manly coach Des Hasler and deputy senior Crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen, SC, gave evidence of his good character.
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