Former VFL champion Barry Cable has been acquitted of seven historical child sexual abuse charges in a Perth court, despite the judge stating that the alleged victim was likely telling the truth. The 82-year-old faced a judge-only trial over allegations that he abused a girl aged about eight or nine at his family home in the late 1960s.
Judge Michael Bowden delivered the not guilty verdict on Monday, citing the lengthy delay and lack of independent evidence as reasons for reasonable doubt. “That leads me to conclude that while … Mr Cable has the tendency alleged and I consider it more probable than not that she is telling the truth, I am not persuaded of guilt beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.
Outside court, Cable’s son Shane expressed relief, stating the family was not surprised by the decision. He described his father as someone who inspired many through football and community work, and said the allegations were at odds with the Barry they knew.
The prosecution alleged Cable abused the girl when she stayed with him and his wife for about a month. The alleged victim testified that Cable initially treated her well but later subjected her to penetrative sex on multiple occasions while his wife slept. She reported the abuse in 2023 after seeing Cable on television.
Three women gave tendency evidence during the trial, alleging Cable sexually touched them in Victoria and Western Australia. One of them, also a complainant in a civil case, expressed disappointment, saying the system had failed victim-survivors.
A civil trial in 2023 found Cable liable for abusing a different girl from 1968, awarding her $818,700 in damages. Cable declared bankruptcy before that trial, and the compensation remains unpaid. He was subsequently stripped of his Australian Football Hall of Fame honours.
