Sydney Artist Anthony Lister Acquitted of Rape Charges
Prominent artist Anthony Lister has been revealed as the man found not guilty of two counts of rape after a lengthy trial in Sydney
Anthony Lister, Sydney, Australia, Rape Charges, Art
Sydney: So, Anthony Lister, a well-known artist, has been cleared of two rape charges after a long trial. The court finally lifted the order that kept his identity a secret.
He faced some serious allegations, with a total of nine charges against him, including five counts of sexual intercourse without consent. These claims were made by five different women over a three-year span.
At 44, Lister is a big name in the street art scene, often compared to Banksy. His work is everywhere, from galleries to the streets. During the trial, he even sketched scenes from the courtroom.
In October, the jury found him not guilty on four charges. They couldn’t decide on the other five, which included three counts of rape. He’s set for a retrial in 2025.
The judge decided to lift the suppression order after media outlets requested it. He mentioned that revealing Lister’s identity wouldn’t really affect the future jury pool.
Judge John Pickering also dismissed concerns about Lister’s safety, saying that online abuse isn’t a real threat. He pointed out that Lister isn’t as famous as some might think.
Over six weeks, the five women who accused him testified. Lister’s defense claimed that any encounters were consensual and that the women admired him.
The jury found him not guilty of charges related to two women and one charge from another. They couldn’t reach a decision on the rest, including serious allegations of rape and assault.
One of the unresolved charges involved a woman who interned with him. Lister will face a retrial on these charges, split into two trials starting in October 2025.