AUSTRALIA
Illawarra Mercury
Sam Rigney
Magistrate Robert Stone has rejected a defence application to call two witnesses during the landmark hearing of Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson, which the defence said showed he had a tendency to report allegations of child sexual abuse to the authorities.
Mr Stone found the evidence, two statements from people who had dealings with Archbishop Wilson during his time at Wollongong and Adelaide, didn’t have “significant probative value” because it did nothing to assist Mr Stone in understanding what the Archbishop’s personal belief was in relation to reporting matters of child sexual abuse.
Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson leaving Newcastle courthouse on Tuesday after his defence made a ‘no case to answer application’ at the conclusion of the prosecution case. @newcastleheraldpic.twitter.com/nWeanBFJqT
At the conclusion of the crown case, Archbishop Wilson’s defence barrister, Stephen Odgers, SC, moved to have the case against him dismissed, making a ‘no case to answer’ application and handing up detailed written submissions.
If successful that would mean Archbishop Wilson would not be required to run a defence and the charge would be dismissed.
The case will resume at 2pm on Tuesday for argument on the application.
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