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Clark guilty of rapes: Jury
31 Jan 2007 : AAP
Former ATSIC chairman Geoff Clark was the leader of two pack rapes on a woman 36 years ago in Victoria's south-west, a civil trial jury has found.
The jury awarded Carol Anne Stingel, who accused Mr Clark of raping her, A$20,000 in compensatory damages over the delayed onset of post traumatic stress disorder she says was brought on by the assaults.
Ms Stingel, 51, told a Victorian County Court civil trial that Mr Clark led two gang rapes on her in 1971 when she was 16.
The alleged rapes took place in the south-west Victorian town of Warrnambool.
Mr Clark, 54, denied the allegations and earlier told the jury he was living, working and playing football in Melbourne at the time of the alleged rapes.
The jury of six took almost two days to reach its verdict after a civil trial which lasted nine days.
Ms Stingel wept and was hugged by a friend as the jury read its verdict.
Mr Clark showed no emotion.
Ms Stingel did not report the alleged rapes to police until about 2001 when she saw a news report about another woman who accused Mr Clark of raping her in 1981.
Mr Clark's cousin Joanne McGuinness accused him of raping her in 1981. This criminal case was discharged during committal proceedings due to lack of evidence in 2000.
The two women issued writs in the Victorian County Court in 2002 seeking a civil trial and claiming unspecified damages for physical injuries and long-term mental trauma.
In May 2005, the Victorian Court of Appeal ruled the women could not sue Mr Clark.
However, Ms Stingel won her day in court after a full bench of the High Court overturned the decision.
The civil trial was heard at the Victorian County Court and Mr Clark and Ms Stingel both spent time in the witness box during the nine days of evidence.
They have both attended court for each day of the trial.
Media blamed
Outside the court, Mr Clark blamed the media for the finding against him.
"You've interfered in the rule of law, you know that. So in effect it's a victory for nobody, for injustice, what do you expect?" he told reporters.
When asked whether it was the lowest point in his life, Mr Clark replied: "It's the lowest point in the history of this country, I think.
"You could have used the governor general as a scapegoat ... if you wanted to test the law in this country."
Mr Clark's lawyer indicated he had already been instructed to begin work on an appeal.
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