AUSTRALIA
Sky News
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.
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