![Jury delivers verdict in trial of woman accused of sexual penetration with teen boy Jury delivers verdict in trial of woman accused of sexual penetration with teen boy](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/jessica.howard/25aa5806-1d63-4b93-9ae3-f35aead81897.jpg/r0_0_1200_675_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
UPDATE, August 22: A south-west woman has been found not guilty of sexual penetration with a 15-year-old boy at his home three years ago.
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The 33-year-old woman was on trial in Warrnambool County Court charged with sexual offences against the teenage boy in May 2020.
She was found not guilty of all of the offences.
The trial started last week with jurors retiring to consider the evidence on Monday, August 21.
They delivered their verdict that same day.
In opening addresses, jurors were told by a barrister they would need to decide whether the accused woman reasonably believed the complainant was aged 16 or over at the time of the sexual acts.
Earlier, August 15: Warrnambool jurors will decide whether a south-west woman knew the age of a 15-year-old boy she engaged in sexual acts with three years ago.
The 33-year-old woman is on trial in Warrnambool County Court charged with sexual penetration with a child under the age of 16 and sexual assault of a child under 16.
In opening addresses on Monday, August 14, prosecutor Danielle Guesdon told jurors the accused woman attended a friend's gathering in May 2020 where the host's brother, the then 15-year-old complainant, was present.
While at the house the accused woman had a conversation with the host, who said her brother was 15 and had previously been subjected to child sex abuse, Ms Guesdon alleged.
She said jurors would hear the accused woman later spoke to the teenager, asking him about school.
She said the prosecution would allege the woman and child victim engaged in sex and oral sex.
In the hours after the alleged offending, the woman contacted the boy on social media, sending a photo of her cleavage and asking if he would "ever do that again".
Ms Guesdon said jurors would hear evidence from the boy, who later learned the sexual acts were illegal.
She said when confronted by the complainant, the accused woman said something to the effect of: "I feel sick" or "should I kill myself?".
Ms Guesdon said the complainant told his sister and then the police.
She said the jury would hear evidence of a recorded phone call between the sister and the accused woman, in which she said she "felt really sh** about it", "had hurt the family" and she wished she could go back in time.
Barrister Abbie Roodenburg, representing the accused woman, said the issue jurors would need to determine was whether her client reasonably believed the complainant was aged 16 or over at the time of the sexual acts.
"At the end, if you're satisfied she reasonably believed he was 16 or over... you will find her not guilty of the charges," she said.
The trial before Judge Michael O'Connell continues.
- Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; MensLine 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732.
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