Barry Cable's Wife Takes Stand in Historical Child Sex Abuse Trial as Former AFL Player Remains Silent
In a dramatic turn at the District Court of Western Australia, Barry Cable, the 82-year-old former AFL star, has elected not to testify in his historical child sex abuse trial. Instead, his wife, Helen Cable, took to the witness stand to vehemently deny the allegations against him. The State's case concluded on Thursday, with defence counsel Tom Percy confirming his client's decision to remain silent.
Allegations and Denials in the Spotlight
Mr. Cable faces accusations of indecently dealing with and attempting to rape a girl multiple times between 1967 and 1969, when she was eight or nine years old. The alleged incidents are said to have occurred while the girl stayed at the Cable family home. However, Barry Cable has consistently denied these claims, leaving his wife to address the court.
Helen Cable, who has been married to Barry since 1959, repeatedly and firmly asserted that the child never stayed at any of their homes in Perth. This contradicted the complainant's testimony, which described a large household with amenities like a swimming pool and air-conditioning. The complainant later clarified on Tuesday that she had mistakenly mentioned proximity to the beach.
Contrasting Accounts of the Cable Household
During the trial, evidence revealed that in the late 1960s, the Cables lived in a modest, two-bedroom house on a semirural lot in Gosnells, with two ex-racehorses outside. Mrs. Cable insisted that her husband spent much time at home alone, making it unlikely for such opportunities to arise. "I can't imagine that ever happened because I was a homebody-type person - I liked to be at home," she stated, describing her leisure activities as sewing and reading Christian books.
Prosecutor Kim Jennings challenged Mrs. Cable's testimony, presenting official documents from the early 1970s that suggested the girl had stayed with the Cables and was welcomed to return. "No, it never happened," Mrs. Cable responded, repeating the denial multiple times and interrupting questions before they were complete. When accused of being untruthful, she shot back, "Absolutely not," after being reminded of her oath on the Bible.
Witness Testimony and Background Context
The final prosecution witness, the complainant's aunt, gave brief evidence via videolink from Busselton, recalling a conversation with her niece about 30 to 40 years ago. She testified that her niece said Mr. Cable had molested her, touching her and making her do sexual things. Under cross-examination by defence counsel Tom Percy, the witness admitted she did not recall making a police statement in August 2024, where she described the conversation as occurring 25 years ago, but maintained her memory was "pretty OK."
This trial follows Barry Cable being stripped of his football honours after losing a 2023 civil case involving similar allegations. The case has drawn significant attention, with the Cables' sons, Barry Junior and Shane, watching from the public gallery during proceedings.
As the legal battle continues, the community reflects on the serious nature of historical abuse cases and the complexities involved in seeking justice decades later.
