Bishop's child sex offences a 'mistake'

Sky News
February 8, 2016

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/local/perth/2016/02/08/catholic-bishop-in-wa-sex-offence-trial.html

The former head of the Catholic Church's military diocese, who is accused of sexually abusing boys more than 40 years ago, is a victim of mistaken identity, a Perth jury has heard.

Bishop Max Leroy Davis, 70, is charged with six counts of being grossly indecent with five boys under the age of 15 between December 1968 and October 1972 at St Benedict's College in New Norcia, northeast of Perth.

Davis was the dorm master and in charge of discipline and corporal punishment at the boarding school at the time, the West Australian District Court heard on Monday.

In his opening address, prosecutor Mark Nicol said all the victims were touched sexually under the guise of medical examinations or while seeking clarification on sex education.

After touching one boy, Davis allegedly told him he would 'grow up to be a powerful man'.

The court heard the boys were shocked and uncomfortable, but did not discuss what happened to them with anyone at the time.

But defence counsel Seamus Rafferty said while it was accepted that the complainants were sexually abused, his client emphatically denied being responsible.

Mr Rafferty said Davis, who had been the Catholic head of the armed forces for 12 years before being charged, had always deplored such crimes and had even been a whistleblower against another member of the clergy who had behaved inappropriately.

He asked the jury to assess the credibility of all witnesses.

'A truthful witness can often be a mistaken witness,' he said.

Mr Rafferty said there were at least two other members of the clergy, both of whom were now dead, who could have been responsible.

He said his client was ordained as a priest in October 1971 and was never referred to as 'brother', which was how the complainants described him, but was instead called 'Mr Davis' or 'Sir'.

Mr Rafferty said Davis also never wore a habit because he was not a member of the Benedictine order.

While other Catholic priests had been found to have behaved in a 'disgraceful, evil, despicable manner' with children, it did not mean Davis was also guilty, Mr Rafferty said.

The trial continues.