Jurors in the New South Wales Supreme Court have been presented with starkly contrasting narratives regarding a sexual encounter between a former Liberal MP and a 13-year-old boy in a Sydney car park bathroom. The case centres on Rory Amon, now 36, who admits to one sexual meeting with the teenager in July 2017 but denies multiple charges of child sexual abuse, rape, and indecent assault.
Defence Claims Age Misrepresentation
Defence barrister Matthew Johnston SC argued that Amon, then 27 and an aspiring politician, met the alleged victim on a gay dating website requiring users to be over 18. Johnston emphasised this was not a scenario where an adult lurked in spaces frequented by children. "This is not a case where there is an adult who's on a chatroom that's frequented by 13-year-olds and is tricking them into a meeting," he told the jury.
The barrister stated the teenager admitted lying about his age twice: once when signing up for the website and again during conversations with Amon. Johnston suggested the boy bolstered these falsehoods by sending photos and messages to appear older, intending to meet Amon for sex. "I'm raising that not to, in any way, say that the alleged victim is to blame for anything," Johnston clarified. "He was 13 ... adolescents make stupid decisions all the time."
Prosecution's Counterargument
Crown prosecutor Meaghan Fleeton urged the jury to reject Amon's assertion that he believed the teen was above the age of consent. "Using your common sense and experience, you may have very little difficulty finding this accused is guilty," Fleeton asserted. She contended it would have been obvious to Amon upon meeting the boy in person that he was under 16.
Fleeton portrayed Amon as an intelligent, articulate former MP who manipulated the boy by lying about his own age before pursuing and sexually assaulting him. The alleged victim was described as a child with no prior sexual experience. Fleeton highlighted the emotional impact on the complainant, who broke down when shown photos of the "dirty, hidden car park toilet" where the encounter occurred. "It was a significant and life-changing course of events," she said.
Disputed Details and Timeline
Amon admits to one sexual meeting but denies allegations of a second encounter where a towel was brought to the bathroom. Johnston suggested the incident had "grown" in the complainant's mind over years as he grappled with its aftermath. "Some witnesses - they believe they're telling the truth ... but they're genuinely mistaken about some things," Johnston noted.
Prosecutors argued there was a window of opportunity in July 2017 for both alleged "hasty hook-ups" to have taken place. They noted the complainant disclosed details to his mother, friends, school counsellor, and psychologist soon after the alleged abuse. The teen first identified Amon in 2020 through a COVID-19 announcement when Amon was a councillor. The two reconnected on Snapchat in 2019 and Grindr in 2022, with Amon sending photos including one in his volunteer firefighter uniform.
The trial continues, with the jury tasked to weigh the credibility of both accounts in this high-profile case.
