Breaking: One of Australia's most senior Catholics guilty of sexually abusing young men
The former Bishop of Broome, who at the peak of his powers was one of the most senior and long-serving Catholic clerics in the country, is found guilty of sexually abusing young men.
Christopher Alan Saunders, a 76-year-old former Bishop of Broome and one of Australia's most senior Catholic clerics, has been found guilty of sexually abusing three young men when he held the position. After a three-week trial, a District Court jury took nearly seven hours to reach their verdict. Saunders was convicted of one count of sexual penetration and 12 counts of indecent assault, but found not guilty on six other charges.
The victims were young Aboriginal men from the Kimberley region, where Indigenous people make up over 40% of the population. The assaults occurred at various locations, including Saunders' church-owned residence in Broome and a retreat known as the beach house. The prosecution presented evidence of Saunders' sexual interest in young Aboriginal men and his tendency to act on that interest.
The defense argued that Saunders' behaviour might have been unusual and that his client was not on trial for inviting young men over for drinks or using church funds for alcohol. The former bishop opted not to testify during the trial, and the only instances where he denied the allegations were through police interview recordings played for the jurors. The sentencing for Saunders is scheduled for a later date.
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