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Senior Navy officer cleared over kiss allegation

A senior New Zealand Navy officer has been found not guilty by a military court of committing an act likely to prejudice service discipline, following allegations she encouraged a junior officer to kiss her on the cheek during a 2023 overseas deployment.

The unanimous verdict was delivered after more than five hours of deliberations at a Court Martial held at Devonport Naval Base in Auckland, allowing the officer, former HMNZS Canterbury Ship Commander Bronwyn Heslop, to be publicly named after interim suppression was lifted.

The case centred on an alleged incident at a Fiji bar while personnel were on shore leave, with the complainant acknowledging under cross-examination that he initially withheld full details from military police and that alcohol had affected parts of his memory, though he maintained the core allegation.



Heslop denied the claim and said she was only lightly intoxicated, while a defence witness stated they did not see the alleged interaction. Heslop’s lawyer said the decision vindicated her after a process that took a heavy personal toll, and confirmed no appeal would be pursued, while military prosecutors and the New Zealand Defence Force have not commented.

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7 COMMENTS

  1. Woke prosecution and a complete waste of taxpayer money. All she did was asked someone to give her a kiss on the cheek during a piss up. COME ON MAN! WHO MADE THE STUPID DECISION TO PROSECUTE HER???

  2. “Hey lady! My eyes are up HERE!” 😆

    Good on the complainant. It’s about time someone did something about all the wanton sexual harassment women perpetrate on men, lol.

    Clown country.

  3. What a complete waste of time money and effort.

    It highlights the promiscuous of todays women. I am surprised she was the one put on trial.

    She may be found not guilty, her career in the navy will be made difficult. She will be thought of as a slag.

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