AUSTRALIA
Canberra Times
March 3, 2014
Michael Inman
Courts reporter for The Canberra Times.
A Canberra catholic priest has been committed to stand trial over allegations he molested a young parishioner in the 1990s.
Father Edward Evans, 84, maintained pleas of not guilty when he appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday.
Defence lawyers had asked a magistrate to conduct a full committal hearing – so they could cross-examine prosecution witnesses – before sending the matter to the ACT Supreme Court.
But Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker rejected the application, finding it would not be in the interest of justice.
Ms Walker said the cross-examination of witnesses would be best conducted before a jury.
Ms Walker continued Father Evans’ bail and committed him to stand trial in the higher court on seven charges, including committing acts of indecency and sexual intercourse with a child.
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