Trial of Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson for allegedly covering up child sex abuse delayed after shock Alzheimer’s diagnosis
THE landmark prosecution of Archbishop Philip Wilson has been delayed as he seeks urgent testing on his mental fitness after a shock Alzheimer’s disease, a court has ruled.
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THE landmark prosecution of Archbishop Philip Wilson has been delayed as he seeks urgent testing on his mental fitness after a shock Alzheimer’s disease, a court has ruled.
The Archbishop of Adelaide, 67, was due to face a Newcastle Local Court magistrate last week, more than 2.5 years after he was charged with covering -up sex abuse within the Catholic Church over four decades.
But the Archbishop, a former local junior priest, failed to travel to New South Wales for the opening day of his two week trial on Tuesday as dramatic details of his failing health were publicly disclosed.
The court heard he was last week diagnosed with early stages of dementia after suffering head injuries from a “nasty” fall on October 11 that left him unconscious and needing hospital treatment for an 8cm head cut.
His lawyers also revealed he had a pacemaker fitted last week – meaning he could not fly for at least seven days - amid concerns about his ailing health and worries about his “cognitive capacities”.
He also suffers with diabetes.
Despite his shock diagnosis he has refused to resign his position.
Archbishop Wilson, the highest-ranking Catholic Church official in the world to be charged with such crimes, has taken personal leave while he “vigorously” defends the case.
On Friday, the court heard that his legal team had secured an urgent brain test appointment with an Adelaide neuropsychologist early next week.
The court has heard how the Archbishop, whose full name is Philip Edward Wilson, failed a series of basic cognitive tests that are given to Year 1 students, including being able to read the time and counting backwards from 100 in increments of seven.
On Friday, prosecutor Gareth Harrison tendered a letter the Archbishop sent to the Adelaide Catholic community on Tuesday – revealed by The Advertiser - that contained details in “stark contrast” to the evidence of Associate Professor Andrew Lee.
The neurologist could not rule out to the court whether the Archbishop was “malingering” or faking illness to avoid facing trial.
On Friday, the court heard his legal team had worked “above and beyond” to secure a new medical appointment that would prove whether he was fit to stand trial.
Stephen Odgers SC, defending, told the court it was his client’s “desire for the trial to begin” next week.
He said while there were management issues, he said it would be beneficial for the trial to commence, which was supported by Mr Harrison.
After originally contemplating abandoning the trial until next year, Magistrate Caleb Franklin ruled the case would start on Wednesday, pending the outcome of the medical tests.
Earlier this week he had expressed frustration at the “completely unsatisfactory” delays to the case.
Up to 16 prosecution witnesses, including victims, relatives, clergy and police, will give evidence.
Court documents state the Archbishop is accused of concealing sexual abuse by a local paedophile, James Patrick Fletcher in the mid-2000s after being first told of the crimes in 1976.
He denies one charge of concealing a serious indictable offence.
He faces a maximum two years in jail if convicted of the charge laid by NSW police Strike Force Lantle, which was formed to investigate sexual abuse allegations.
A charge sheet alleges the Archbishop “did not bring to the attention of the police” allegations of a sex assault of a then 10 year-old boy at Maitland, near Newcastle, 165km north of Sydney.
The attacker, James Patrick Fletcher, was his then flatmate in the Maitland-Newcastle diocese.
Police allege the Archbishop failed to report the abuse between 2004 and 2006 when Fletcher, 65, known as Jim, died in prison while serving a 10 year jail term for abusing an altar boy.
Neither party commented outside court.