AUSTRALIA
Coffs Coast Advocate
Leah White | 13th Jul 2016
THE trial of Catholic priest John Patrick Casey over allegations of historical child sexual abuse and rape has begun in the Lismore District Court.
Casey – who was involved with the Mary Help of Christians Primary School in Sawtell until the day prior to his arrest – has pleaded not guilty to all 27 charges relating to 18 individual alleged events.
The charges include sexual assault, act of indecency on a person under 16 years of age and homosexual intercourse with a male under 10.
In delivering his opening address, the Crown prosecutor said the cornerstone of the case would be the testaments of three victims, who were all aged under 16 when they said the sexual assaults and rapes occurred in the 1980s.
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