By Cameron Myles and Jamie Freestone
A former bishop will plead not guilty to sex assault charges dating back to 2016 in WA’s north-west.
Christopher Saunders, 74, faced Broome Magistrates Court on Monday for the first time since being charged with five historical offences relating to the alleged sexual assault of a 24-year-old man.
Former Broome bishop Christopher Saunders arrives at Broome Magistrates Court on Monday. Credit: 9News Perth
Saunders’ lawyer Tony Hager told the court his client was yet to enter a plea but intended to plead not guilty at his next appearance.
The former bishop is now facing 33 charges, including indecently dealing with a child as a person of authority, sexual penetration without consent, and unlawful and indecent assault.
Of those charges, 21 relate to an alleged series of assaults against three victims in Broome, Kalumburu, Kununurra and Minyirr between 2008 and 2013. Saunders has pleaded not guilty to those charges and always denied any wrongdoing.
He also faces seven firearms charges, made up of one count of an unlicensed person possessing firearms or ammunition and six counts of inadequately storing firearms, which he has yet to enter pleas to.
Hager told the court on Monday his client would defend the new charges at trial.
Saunders’ bail was extended on Monday, and he will next appear in court on February 3.
Saunders began working in Broome as a deacon in 1975 and became bishop in 1996.
He resigned from his post in 2021.
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