By Alex Ellwood, Tom Kersten, Sharlotte Thou and Declan Milton

Content Warning: This article contains mention of sexual assault and sexual harassment

ANU student Alexander Matters has been charged with an additional count of ‘sexual intercourse without consent’ and another count of an ‘act of indecency without consent’ after a second individual came forward with allegations. The incidents allegedly took place in May 2021. 

Appearing via video in the ACT Magistrates Court on 12 October, Matters, along with his lawyer Andrew Fraser, pled not guilty to all four charges. Magistrate Campbell granted Mr Matters’ bail to continue and he will reappear in court on 23 November. 

Magistrate Campbell made changes to Mr Matters’ bail conditions. Condition 8, which required Matters to remain in the ACT was deleted, and he is now permitted to reside in South Australia, meaning he has the option to stay at an address registered in the ACT or travel to a registered address in SA. 

He is required to advise the Australian Federal Police within 24 hours of leaving the ACT, and if relevant, provide the address of any mandatory quarantine site. Additionally, Matters is required to advise the AFP within 48 hours of any intention to return to the ACT from South Australia. While the full list of conditions is undisclosed, Magistrate Campbell added the defendants name to conditions 4, 5 and 6 – conditions that presumably relate to Mr Matters’ contact with the alleged victims.

The new charges presented to Matters relate to “sexual intercourse with another person without the consent of that other person and who is reckless as to whether the other person consents”. According to the ACT Crimes Act 1900, the charge is punishable for up to 12 years imprisonment. The charge for indecency without consent is punishable for up to 7 years imprisonment.   

If this article raised any concerns, help is available:

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ANU Wellbeing & Support (International): +61 488 884 170 (text)

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre: 6247 2525

1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Respectful Relationships Unit: [email protected]

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