A Nationals candidate who took his own life less than a week before the 2022 Victorian state election was accused of attempting to sexually assault a family friend at his home, court documents have revealed.
Shaun Gilchrist was preselected by the Nationals for the seat of Narracan, east of Melbourne, but died by suicide before he was due to face a court in November last year.
His death meant the charges were never tested in court.
In the Melbourne County Court on Monday, three charges of sexual assault and one of rape against Mr Gilchrist were formally dismissed.
He was accused of sexually assaulting a woman who was friends with Mr Gilchrist and his wife at his home in June 2021.
The prosecution alleged the complainant decided to order a taxi home after an intoxicated Mr Gilchrist touched her upper thigh twice, after a few hours of watching TV and eating pizza together.
He then allegedly sexually assaulted her while she was waiting for the taxi, according to prosecutors.
Court documents revealed that the woman decided to report the alleged assault to police after talking to several friends about the experience.
Election abandoned
Mr Gilchrist's death less than a week before the state election meant the Victorian Electoral Commission was forced to abandon the poll in Narracan. The seat covers the rural centres of Warragul and Drouin.
A supplementary election in Narracan was held over the weekend and the Liberal Party retained the seat.
Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh defended the party's vetting process in the aftermath of Mr Gilchrist's death.
Mr Walsh said Mr Gilchrist had not disclosed the allegations on a detailed declaration form that was part of the preselection process.
