Micheal Ward Acquitted on 5 Rape and Sexual Assault Charges

Q: The criminal case failed. Could a civil lawsuit with a lower proof standard still hold him accountable?

Yes. A criminal acquittal does not bar a civil claim over the same alleged conduct. In England and Wales, the criminal case required prosecutors to prove guilt so that the jury was sure. Ward’s not-guilty verdict means that standard was not met; it is not a finding that the events could not have happened. A civil claimant would face a lower test: proving on the balance of probabilities that the assault more likely than not occurred. That means the woman could, in principle, sue Ward for damages for alleged sexual assault or related harms even after the acquittal. The civil court would assess the evidence independently, including testimony, messages, medical or counselling records, witness accounts of her condition afterward, and any contemporaneous reports. If successful, the remedy would usually be financial compensation rather than prison or a criminal record. Depending on the facts, a claimant might also explore claims against others only if there were a credible basis that a third party or business enabled the harm or failed in a legal duty, though the reported facts here point mainly to a claim against Ward personally. Whether such a case is brought is a separate question. Civil litigation can be costly, stressful and fact-intensive, and limitation rules, funding, and evidential strength matter. But legally, the acquittal does not prevent a civil lawsuit, and the lower proof standard means civil liability remains possible.

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 10

A Snaresbrook Crown Court jury found Micheal Ward not guilty on Friday of two rape charges and three sexual assault charges.
The case centered on a woman's allegation that Ward attacked her in the back of a car after they met at an east London nightclub on Jan. 2, 2023.
Ward, 28, had denied all five counts and said their encounter was wholly consensual.
The acquittal ends a criminal case against the Bafta-winning actor, known for the film "Blue Story" and Netflix series "Top Boy."