Former Bishop of Broome pleads not guilty to criminal charges

The former Bishop of Broome has pleaded not guilty to a series of criminal charges in Western Australia’s far north, including historical sex offences. Source: ABC News.

74-year-old Bishop Christopher Saunders faces a total of 28 charges, including three counts of inappropriate contact with a child by a person in authority and 16 counts of unlawful and indecent assault.

Bishop Saunders is also charged with two counts of sexual penetration without consent.

Bishop Saunders, who appeared at Broome Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon to receive his honorary mention, said he understood the charges of indecent contact, unlawful and indecent assault and sexual penetration without consent and pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Police believe some of the sexual offenses took place in the Kimberley towns of Broome, Kununurra and Kalumburu.

The alleged crimes are said to have taken place between 2008 and 2016.

Police have also charged him with seven counts of inadequate storage of firearms and not having a license to possess a firearm or ammunition, but he has not entered a plea in the matter.

Bishop Saunders’ defense counsel, Seamus Rafferty, appeared via audiolink from Perth and Magistrate Deen Potter extended Bishop Saunders’ bail.

Bishop Saunders will appear again in Broome District Court on January 28, 2025 for a Commencement Hearing.

FULL STORY

Former Catholic Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders pleads not guilty to historic sex charges (By Mya Kordic, ABC News)