Catholic bishop sex abuse trial jury told to ignore seven charges

The judge presiding over the sexual abuse trial of a former Western Australian Catholic bishop has instructed the jury to disregard seven charges against him, citing a lack of evidence for conviction. Christopher Alan Saunders, 76, a long-serving cleric, is accused of committing 26 sexual offenses against three young men during his tenure as the Bishop of Broome.

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shirts off

Judge Martin Flynn informed the jurors that seven charges would not require verdicts, as there was insufficient evidence beyond reasonable doubt to find Mr. Saunders guilty. He still faces 19 charges. The court heard that Mr. Saunders would not present evidence in his defense. The trial has detailed allegations of parties held at his Broome residence and a "beach house," involving young Aboriginal men. Court proceedings included testimony about a "shirts off" dress code and the availability of alcohol during these gatherings.

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seemingly endless supply of alcohol

During the trial, police interviews from 2024 were presented, where specific allegations were put to Mr. Saunders. He denied claims of touching an alleged victim sexually with his foot and called a suggestion of kissing a man at the beach house "outrageous." The court was shown surveillance footage from early 2024, recorded in his Broome home, depicting Mr. Saunders and another man sitting together with their feet on each other's laps while watching football. Mr. Saunders asserted to detectives that these actions were not "invasive," "sexual," or "abusive."

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That's bloody nonsense

Detectives stated the footage was "in line with the evidence that's been provided" by others, though the men in the video were not among the alleged victims. The court heard from two alleged victims who claim Mr. Saunders used his feet to touch them sexually without consent. In a subsequent police interview, Mr. Saunders denied indecently touching a man while wrestling, calling the allegation "bloody nonsense." He also denied allegations of touching another man's genitals while wrestling in a 2025 interview shown to the court.

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outrageous