Bishop Christopher Saunders Trial
Title: Further details of retired Bishop Christopher Saunders’ court case revealed after suppression order lifted
Author: Erin Parke and Rosanne Maloney
Publisher: ABC News ABC Kimberley
Date: 01MAR2024
Details of charges against former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders can be revealed for the first time, after the retired cleric failed in his bid to prevent their publication.
Bishop Saunders was arrested at his home in Broome on February 21 and charged with 19 sexual offences.
At his first court appearance the following day, his lawyer Seamus Rafferty indicated 74-year-old would plead not guilty to all charges.
He also requested a suppression order restricting coverage of proceedings, telling the court that media coverage of the case had jeopardised his client’s right to a fair trial.
Mr Rafferty also accused WA Police of leaking plans for Bishop Saunders’ arrest to reporters from Channel 7, resulting in the process being filmed and broadcast in a way that he said breached his client’s legal right to privacy.
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