Former Broome Bishop Christopher Saunders fined $2k after pleading guilty to firearm offences
The charges relate to Saunders' failure to properly secure ammunition and a firearm, with Magistrate Deen Potter describing his storage practices as 'extremely lax.'
Broome Magistrates Court was on Monday told that hundreds of rounds of ammunition were found inadequately stored in Saunders' home, office and vehicle, including 500 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition hidden inside a camera bag.
A CZ bolt-action rifle was also discovered unsecured in his car during travels in southern WA in January last year.
Appearing via video link, Saunders' lawyer Tony Hager asked the court to consider his client's age — 75 — and the fact he had no prior criminal record.
In handing down the fine, Mr Potter noted changes to firearm laws since Saunders obtained his licence and said that while the offences were serious, they warranted a financial penalty rather than a jail sentence.
More than 1200 rounds of ammunition and a shotgun were allegedly uncovered in Mr Saunders' Broome home in December 2023.
The charges are part of a broader WA police investigation into historical child sexual abuse allegations against the 75-year-old.
Saunders was first arrested in February last year, after an investigation ordered by the Pope found he likely sexually assaulted four youths, while potentially grooming another 67 over 50 years.
He now faces a total of 39 charges, including alleged child sex abuse, firearms offences, and assault, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to.
WA Police allege Saunders indecently dealt with a male child between 2009 and 2010, amid a series of charges involving multiple complainants and incidents spanning more than a decade.
His arrest in January led to six new charges, including sexual penetration of a child under 13, indecent dealings, and common assault, bringing the total number of charges against him to almost 40.
Saunders first drew national attention last year when he became the highest-ranking member of the Catholic Church in Australia to be accused of sex crimes since Cardinal George Pell's acquittal by the High Court in 2020.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
9 News
a day ago
- 9 News
Conor McGregor loses appeal against civil jury's finding he sexually assaulted a woman
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here In November a jury at the High Court in Dublin found McGregor liable for assaulting Nikita Hand, who says he "brutally raped and battered" her in a hotel penthouse in 2018. He was ordered to pay Hand almost €250,000 ($400,000), as well as about €1.3 million ($2.3 million) in legal costs. Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Conor McGregor on Thursday lost his legal appeal against a civil court's finding that he sexually assaulted a woman at a Dublin hotel. (Getty) Hand, 35, successfully sued McGregor in civil court after prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. McGregor alleged that Hand fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. He launched an appeal, but at a hearing earlier this month his lawyer unexpectedly withdrew a request to introduce new evidence. Three appeals court judges in Dublin on Thursday dismissed the appeal "in its entirety." Hand was in court for the ruling, but McGregor was not. Three appeals court judges in Dublin on Thursday dismissed the appeal "in its entirety" (Pictured: November 2024) (Sportsfile via Getty Images) The 37-year-old fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime in the ring, has become known for anti-immigration statements and criticism of Irish politicians. He has flirted with the idea of running for president of Ireland . McGregor also faces a lawsuit in Florida for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom of the Kaseya Centre, home arena of the Miami Heat, during a 2023 NBA finals game with the Denver Nuggets. Readers seeking support can contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028. In an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000). World UK courts sexual assault Ireland CONTACT US Auto news: BYD speaks out about their ongoing battle with Tesla.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Pilot, 56, killed after light plane crashes into wheat field near Toowoomba
A man has died after a light plane crashed into a wheat field near Toowoomba. A 56-year-old man flying a glider plane was reported missing after failing to return from his flight. About 6.30pm on Wednesday, officers were called to a wheat field near Wainui Soldiers Rd in Bowenville after reports of a light plane crash. Upon arrival, emergency services found the man, the sole occupant of the plane, who was declared dead at the scene. The fatal crash comes only two weeks after two experienced pilots were killed in a similar crash in the same region. Robert 'Bob' Molony and Wayne Saunders, an experienced Aero Logistics pilot and flight examiner, were killed on July 20 after a light plane crashed into a field and burst into flames.
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Broome man handed suspended jail term after killing ex-partner's dog
A Broome man who killed his partner's dog has walked free from court after receiving a suspended jail term. Warning: This story contains details of injuries to an animal that some readers may find distressing. Broome Magistrates Court heard Regan Phillip Woodley, 32, lashed out at the 8-kilogram dog after an "explosive" argument with his then-partner in November last year. After Woodley left the property, the court heard the woman went to look for her dog, which later "wobbled back" to the house. The animal died as a result of its injuries. Woodley was charged under the Animal Welfare Act, and faced trial after pleading not guilty. Sentencing Woodley on Wednesday, Magistrate Deen Potter referred to evidence from a local vet who examined the dead dog's body. Magistrate Potter said the cross-breed suffered numerous broken ribs and had air present outside of its lungs, consistent with a "collapsed or punctured lung". The animal also had a fractured vertebra, which would have caused paralysis and impacted the dog's movements of its back legs. The magistrate told the court he could "not make a positive finding on whether he intended to kill the dog", but found Woodley had caused it grievous injuries. "I can't say it was malicious," Magistrate Potter said. "At the very least … [it was] emotional anger." Based on the evidence before him, the magistrate found the dog had been "kicked or run over" by Woodley on his scooter. Seated next to his lawyer, Woodley held his head in his hands during his conviction and sentencing, but did not say anything else. Magistrate Potter told the court Woodley "lashed out in a fit of anger" as he walked out of his partner's home, where two children and another person were present. The court heard Woodley and his partner were in a "dynamic situation", and had been in a verbal argument that had "escalated across the day". Magistrate Potter said the case was based on circumstantial evidence, as no-one saw Woodley have any physical interaction with the dog. But due to the credible evidence presented to the court at trial, he said a term of imprisonment was appropriate. Woodley was sentenced to seven months' jail, suspended for nine months.
