Jury unable to rule on church minister sex charges

ABC News, Australia/January 31, 2006

A Wodonga jury in north-east Victoria has failed to reach a verdict on sexual misconduct charges levelled at church minister David Arthur Oldfield.

The Wodonga Church of Christ minister is accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy in his care in 1997.

The jury deliberated for two days before it appeared in court yesterday afternoon.

It told the court it was unable to agree on two counts of wilfully committing an indecent act on a boy aged under 16.

However, it found him not guilty of one count of wilful penetration.

The court was told publicity around the case would prevent a fair trial being held in Wodonga again.

The case will now be re-heard in Melbourne.