Former Australian footballer Barry Cable accused of sexually abusing a girl in the 1960s
Consensus Summary
Multiple news articles are covering the trial of former Australian footballer Barry Cable, 82, who is accused of sexually abusing a girl under the age of 13 at his home in Perth in the late 1960s. The alleged victim, now in her 60s, has testified about the abuse, but Cable's wife Helen has denied the girl ever stayed at their home, despite documents showing she had. Three other women have also provided evidence of abuse by Cable as children in the 1970s and 1980s, though he is not facing criminal charges over those claims. Cable was a champion footballer, winning multiple premierships and individual awards, and was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, though his membership has since been revoked.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Barry Cable, 82, is facing a trial in the Perth District Court on charges of sexually abusing a girl under the age of 13 in the late 1960s
- The alleged victim claims the abuse happened at Cable's home in Perth when she was between 8-11 years old and that Cable told her if she told anyone, 'they wouldn't believe me because he was Barry Cable'
- Cable's wife Helen has testified that the alleged victim never stayed at their home, but prosecutor Kim Jennings showed documents suggesting the girl had stayed with the Cables before and was welcome to stay on weekends
- Three other women have also provided evidence during the trial accusing Cable of sexually abusing them when they were children in the 1970s and 1980s, though Cable is not facing criminal charges over these claims
- Cable was a champion footballer, winning three WA premierships with Perth in the 1960s, three Sandover Medals, and two VFL premierships with North Melbourne in the 1970s. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996 and elevated to legend status in 2012
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The alleged victim, now in her 60s, testified that Cable would come into her room when his wife Helen was asleep and abuse her
- The alleged victim said Cable told her 'if I told anyone they wouldn't believe me because he was Barry Cable'
- Two other women claimed Cable exposed himself to them and would try to push his genitalia into their backside when they were in a spa with him as children
- One woman claimed Cable abused her for more than a decade, which started when she was about 13-years-old and continued until about the time she was married
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The alleged victim's aunt said the girl told her decades ago that Cable 'molested her', but Helen Cable denied the girl ever stayed at their home
Source Articles
Ex-AFL legend faces child sex abuse claims
A former AFL legend has denied historical child sex abuse charges dating back to the 1960s, with prosecutors alleging he targeted an eight-year-old girl.
Ex-footballer Barry Cable abused young girls in backyard spas in Melbourne, court told
Former footballer Barry Cable sexually assaulted children in a backyard spa in Melbourne at a time when he was a "famous" figure, a court has heard.
Australian footballer accused of child sex abuse will not testify at his trial
The wife of Barry Cable, the former footballer on trial for allegedly sexually abusing a child in the early stages of his illustrious career, testifies in defence of her famous husband.
Barry Cable abused girl from orphanage in Perth home as wife slept, court hears
Ex-Australian football Hall of Famer Barry Cable picked up a girl from an orphanage in Perth and sexually abused her multiple times in the 1960s, a court has been told.
Ex-AFL legend verdict expected within weeks
A famous footballer will find out if he will be found guilty or not guilty of historical child sex abuse charges within weeks.
Footballer’s wife denies girl stayed at their home
The wife of a former AFL legend has denied a young girl stayed at their home, as he fights historical child sex abuse charges in court.
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