A former prison guard has launched an appeal against his convictions for sexually abusing 10 inmates, including a pregnant woman, at a women’s jail over several years. Wayne Gregory Astill was sentenced to 23 years in prison last year after he was convicted of 34 charges, including aggravated sexual assault and indecent assault. He was found guilty of 27 charges related to non-consensual conduct but admitted to seven counts of misconduct in office related to inappropriate consensual sexual acts.
The jury found he sexually assaulted 10 prisoners, one of whom was pregnant at the time, while he was stationed at Dillwynia Correctional Centre in northwestern Sydney. Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. On Wednesday, Astill wore a black suit and a blue shirt with his hair neatly combed as he appeared in the Court of Criminal Appeal to contest his convictions and sentence.
His barrister Tomislav Bicanic argued the trial judge, District Court Judge Gina O’Rourke, had erred when she delivered a tendency direction to the jury. During the trial, the Crown prosecutor argued the evidence demonstrated Astill had a tendency to make sexually suggestive comments, put himself in a position where he was alone with women, and engage in sexual acts without consent. Mr Bicanic told the court the Crown had relied upon evidence that “varied widely in terms of severity or seriousness” and included accounts of conduct for which Astill had not be.
