Kerry Blackman, former CEO of the Gidarjil Development Corporation, has been convicted of four charges of sexual assault after a two-day trial in Bundaberg District Court. The incidents occurred between 2017 and 2023 against a woman who was then aged 23. Prosecutors alleged that Blackman had a "sexual interest" in the victim, including sending inappropriate messages and physically assaulting her. Despite his defense attorney's arguments questioning the timeline and details of the events, the jury found him guilty on four counts but acquitted him of one common assault charge. Sentencing is set for next week.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Former Gidarjil Development Corporation CEO Kerry Blackman was convicted in the Bundaberg District Court of four charges of sexual assault against a young woman dating back to 2013. The trial took place over two days, during which Blackman pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by the jury. Prosecutors alleged that Blackman had a "sexual interest" in the then-23-year-old victim and committed various acts of misconduct between 2017 and 2023, including buying her lingerie and sending inappropriate messages. In one incident, he bit the woman's ear and groped her outside a toilet. The case hinges on the credibility of the victim’s testimony, with Judge John Allen instructing jurors to consider if they were convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the assaults occurred. Blackman will face sentencing next week at another hearing.
Written for “Sexual Assault Conviction Former CEO” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
In short:
Kerry Blackman faced a trial in the Bundaberg District Court.
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Blackman → face → Court
He was found guilty of four charges of sexual assault dating back to 2013.
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He → find → 2013
Blackman will face a sentencing hearing next week.
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Blackman → face → hearing
Former Gidarjil Development Corporation chief executive Kerry Blackman has been convicted of sexual assault against a young woman almost a decade ago.
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Blackman → convict → woman
Blackman faced a two-day trial in the Bundaberg District Court this week.
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Blackman → face → Court
He pleaded not guilty to four charges of sexual assault and one charge of common assault relating to a woman between 2017 and 2023.
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He → plead → 2017
Crown prosecutor Kate Thamm told the court Blackman had a "sexual interest" in the then 23-year-old woman, and the charges stemmed from a series of interactions between them.
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charges → tell → them
In one incident in 2017, Blackman confronted the woman outside a toilet and whispered in her ear and bit it, before grabbing her backside.
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Blackman → confront → backside
"She could smell the soap on him," she said.
"
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she → smell → him
The force of how he touched her moved her underwear."
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he → touch → underwear
Ms Thamm said Blackman bought the woman lingerie as a gift and sent her an inappropriate text message.
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Blackman → say → message
"When a man buys lingerie and tells her she has a tight bottom, it only means one thing," Ms Thamm said.
"
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Thamm → buy → thing
He is sending her text messages about her tight arse, he had a sexual interest in her and he acted on it."
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he → send → it
Blackman's defence barrister, Simon Lewis, told the jury the text could be categorised as "outdated male banter" rather than a sexual advance.
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text → tell → banter
In another interaction, Blackman grabbed the woman around the head with his hands and kissed her on the lips.
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Blackman → grab → lips
The court was closed to the public during the witness's testimony but was reopened for the closing statements of the prosecution and defence.
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court → close → prosecution
During the closing statements, Mr Lewis questioned the timeline of dates and events that were reported to police and the clothing the woman was wearing during one of the alleged incidents.
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woman → question → incidents
"The account has moved, the year has moved," he said.
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he → move → ?
"Two of the five charges she never [previously] reported to police."
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she → report → police
The jury requested clarification on whether the woman was wearing shorts, slacks, or trousers during one of the alleged sexual assaults.
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woman → request → assaults
"That remains unanswered," Mr Lewis said.
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Lewis → remain → ?
In his summary, Judge John Allen KC told jurors they were to consider whether the woman was a credible witness and if they were convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the sexual assaults and common assault occurred.
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assaults → tell → doubt
After five hours of deliberations, the jury of six men and six women returned their guilty verdict for four charges of sexual assault.
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jury → return → assault
He was found not guilty for a single charge of common assault.
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He → find → assault
Judge Allen revoked Blackman's bail.
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Allen → revoke → bail
He was remanded in custody, with a sentencing hearing listed for next week.
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hearing → remand → week
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