Lema Semandar
The Daily Telegraph
March 26 2014
THE celebrity agent wife of Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes was accused of “lying” in a heated exchange with the prosecution as she defended
her husband against a series of child sex offences.
Robyn Gardiner, whose clients include Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, spent five hours denying the allegations made against her partner of almost
40 years in the the District Court yesterday.
Hughes, 65, has pleaded not guilty to 11 child sex offences involving five complainants in the 1980s and 1990.
Ms Gardiner said the man who played the popular character of Martin Kelly did not expose himself while wearing a sarong, never swam in a
pool naked and did not touch a friend’s daughter inappropriately during parties at the girl’s house.
“Absolutely not,” she said repeatedly. When a neighbour ignored her on the street in 1986, she said she asked the woman what she had done
to offend her.
The court heard that the woman didn’t answer her question and she later found out it was because her daughter had drawn a penis and said
she had seen one “at Robert’s house”, the jury heard.
Under cross-examination Crown prosecutor Gina O’Rourke disputed Ms Gardiner’s version of events.
Ms O’Rourke said during the street confrontation when Ms Gardiner had asked what was wrong, the woman replied “why don’t you ask your
husband” to which Ms Gardiner allegedly said “we need to get him some help”.
But she repeatedly denied saying this.
“I’m under oath here, she did not say those words,” Ms Gardiner said.
She said her husband was shocked to find out the family had gone to police.
“I’ll never forget it, he kept saying what, what, what?,” Ms Gardiner said.
The alleged victim’s mother had told the court that Hughes was molesting her child during sleepovers at his house and the family decided to
move suburbs instead of pursuing the case with police.
Ms Gardiner also told the court that she ended a friendship with the mother of another alleged victim after the woman hit on her during a boat house holiday.
When Ms Gardiner could not remember where on her body the woman had touched her, Ms O’Rourke said: “You don’t know because you are lying.”
“I’m not lying,” Ms Gardiner said.
The alleged victim’s mother said their friendship ended because her daughter had confessed that Hughes was molesting her in her bedroom while he was at their home for parties.
Ms Gardiner has continued her successful Surry Hills-based business since the allegations against her husband were first made public in 2010.
Blanchett gave a heartfelt mention to Ms Gardiner after winning the Best Actor Oscar this month. “To my agent in Australia, Robyn Gardiner, I love you so very much,” Blanchett said.
Ms Gardiner’s business RGM Artists represents big names like comedian Chris Lilley, Tropfest founder and film director John Polson, actors Rose Byrne and Ryan Kwantena, and TV personalities Amanda Keller and Andrew Denton.
Australia's Progressive Leftists forced to look concerned about Paedophilia but could not help but throw in a Muslim Taxi Driver Joke at the end... so funny is child abuse.
Woody Allen and Dylan Farrow scandal might risk Oscar for Cate Blanchett.....boo hoo
“If there is a yardstick to measure cultural decay, the child pornography epidemic must register.”
More at stake in molester affair than a reputation
CAROLINE OVERINGTON THE AUSTRALIAN MARCH 27, 2010
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