The jury has been discharged in the trial of a man accused of importing a childlike sex doll after the Australian Border Force intercepted a parcel containing a doll and other associated items in September 2020.
Jeffrey Scott Deacon, 28, pleaded not guilty to importing prohibited goods without approval and stood a two-day trial in the ACT Supreme Court earlier this week.
The court heard that following the interception of the package in Sydney, an investigation of it found wigs, underwear and a device to heat the doll.
The package was addressed to Deacon at his Kambah house.
His house and his workplace were searched and his mobile phone and other digital records were seized.
The jury began deliberations on Wednesday morning but was unable to reach a unanimous decision by Thursday lunchtime.
The jury representative's note read by Justice David Mossop stated that further deliberations would have no benefits.
The jury representative confirmed the decision to the court.
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Justice Mossop discharged the jury, saying he was satisfied it would not be able to reach a verdict after six hours of deliberations.
On Wednesday, he gave the jury legal directions that included whether the sex doll Deacon imported was childlike and therefore prohibited tier-two goods under the Customs Act.
The jury also needed to determine if Deacon were reckless in importing the prohibited item.
That is, if it were a childlike sex doll, whether he knew that to be the case and knew it would cause offence to a reasonable adult at the time of him placing the order.
The court heard the legal parties agreed that "a sex doll" was imported and that Deacon had not obtained the necessary approval for the import.
Audio and video files of the investigation, played during the trial, included Deacon saying he did not know what to expect, he sought a "flat-chested" doll and that he "didn't read the measurements".
Deacon, who has no criminal history, said he was lonely and just wanted a "normal adult one" to "just have fun with it".
The case is listed in court again on November 25.
Mr Deacon remains on bail and is excused on the next appearance if he has a legal representative.
