‘A nightmare’: Former WA MP James Hayward has child sex abuse charges dropped
“I have been subjected to a sustained and relentless attack on my character.
“I did not receive a fair trial. Through the appeals process, the court recognised this, and as a result, the state has been held to account.
“The botched prosecution was doomed from the start, it was marred by neglect, poor judgement, prejudice and political interference. Nobody is better off, just a lot of hurt, pain and seriously damaged lives.
“Both the police and prosecutors failed me, failed my family, failed the community, and failed the complainant.
“I just want to enjoy my life as a free man without this terrible, terrible thing hanging over me.”
He told the media his biggest regret was attempting to take his own life, a threat he penned to his family that later became a key piece of evidence in the case against him.
Hayward told the media his appeal bid centred on concerns about how WA Police conducted the video interview with the complainant, which was also a key piece of evidence at trial.
The Court of Appeal is expected to publish its reasons next week.
Hayward declined to be drawn on whether he intended to pursue a claim for compensation.
After his last court appearance, Hayward told the media the 410 days he spent behind bars were “tremendously difficult” and vowed to lay bare the truth about the state of WA’s justice system if he was successful in his bid to return to the halls of parliament.
Since his release, the former upper house member has been vying to return to parliament because the convictions which rendered him ineligible for higher office have since been overturned.
Hayward has penned a letter to parliament seeking clarity on whether he could return and deliver an hour-long valedictory speech protected by parliamentary privilege, something he wanted to utilise to air his concerns he was prosecuted as a result of political interference.
The ex-MP for the South West region resigned from the WA Nationals after being suspended when the charges were laid in December 2021, but continued serving as an Independent MP until he was convicted.
Hayward made headlines in the weeks that followed by making fleeting visits to parliament to secure his $168,000 salary and entitlements.
The day after Hayward’s conviction, the government passed a motion which stripped him of his rights as a former member of parliament – including his right to access Parliament House.
