NSW: Marsden accuser sought $200,000 compensation

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2000
NSW: Marsden accuser sought $200,000 compensation

SYDNEY, Feb 11 AAP - A fourth witness who had testified to having under-age sex with
solicitor John Marsden had sought $200,000 victim's compensation, a judge was told today.

Edward Victor Stals, 39, told the New South Wales Supreme Court he had sex with Mr
Marsden when he was 15 or 16 on up to seven occasions.

Mr Stals was the fourth witness to be called by Channel 7, which is defending a defamation
action brought by Mr Marsden over the broadcast of programs in 1995 and 1996 that claimed
he had sex with underage boys.

Under cross-examination from Ian Barker, QC, for Mr Marsden, Mr Stals agreed he sought
victim's compensation from the solicitor but said his lawyers had set the figure of $200,000.

Mr Barker said that, in the compensation application, Mr Stals said the solicitor had
sexually assaulted him on 15 to 20 occasions, contradicting his court evidence.

But Mr Stals said he was referring to every sexual activity which took place between
him and Mr Marsden.

When Channel 7's QC, Henric Nicholas, questioned the relevancy of tendering the compensation
document, Mr Barker said it related to a motive for making accusations.

The hearing is continuing.

AAP mss/tsm/lw/bwl

KEYWORD: MARSDEN (CARRIED EARLIER)

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