Isaac Compton Found Not Guilty of Assaulting Women at Newcastle House Party
Isaac Compton, a well-known musician and content creator, has been found not guilty of assaulting and sexually touching two women at a house party in Newcastle. The court heard that the prosecution could not prove the case "beyond reasonable doubt" due to inconsistencies in the women's evidence.
Media personality, musician, and content creator Isaac Compton has been found not guilty of assaulting and sexually touching two women at a house party in Newcastle.
In March last year, Mr. Compton, 40, pleaded not guilty in Newcastle Local Court to two counts of sexually touching another person without consent, along with two counts of common assault. Two complainants gave evidence during a hearing in Newcastle Local Court before Judge Trevor Khan.
Both alleged they were sexually touched and assaulted without consent in the early hours of April 7, 2024. However, Judge Trevor Khan found Mr. Compton not guilty of all four counts against him, noting inconsistencies in the women's evidence and stating that the prosecutor could not prove the case "beyond reasonable doubt".
The allegations centred on a house party at a home in the inner-city Newcastle suburb of Islington. One woman alleged Mr. Compton sexually touched her leg, as part of an alleged assault in the backyard of the home. The other alleged she was rubbed in her private area by Mr. Compton, who allegedly said he wanted to get intimate.
The court heard that after the women told other party guests, Mr. Compton was told to leave. Before that, a party guest told him to "stop acting weird". Body-worn vision of Mr. Compton being charged was played in court. He denied all knowledge of any alleged assaults, saying "Do I have to answer these questions". When the officer outlined the offences he was facing, he replied, "I have no idea what the f**k is this".
Judge Khan said all of the witnesses had been drinking that night and that needed to be taken into account in terms of their recollection of events and statements to police. "I don't think any of them were bald-faced liars, but we had a lot of people who had been at the pub for hours, then they're attempting to give a description of events," Judge Khan said. "We have got young people who are attempting to do their best, but it doesn’t always get up to proof."
In the circumstances, Judge Khan concluded that the prosecution did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant engaged in any sexual touching. Mr. Compton appeared to let out a sigh in the gallery when the not guilty verdicts were handed down.