Broome Bishop Christopher Saunders: Police say ‘more than 200 witnesses’ to alleged sex offending

The sex crimes investigation into Broome Bishop Christopher Saunders has been described as “ongoing” by police during his second court appearance — with the magistrate told more than 200 people were potential witnesses to his alleged offending.

Bishop Saunders, 74, fronted Broome Magistrates Court for a committal mention on Monday after he was arrested and charged by detectives in February.

In total, the bishop is facing 21 charges related to his alleged sexual offending. He is also facing several charges relating to the storage of firearms.

The court was presented with a list of more than 200 names who the prosecutor said potentially witnessed his offending.

Sergeant Kristy Miles argued some of those individuals should be assured protection through an amendment to Bishop Saunders’ current bail conditions.

But the Bishop’s lawyer, Seamus Rafferty, said that due to there being no guarantee witnesses were legitimate — and the fact several people hadn’t even submitted statements — it would be unfair to amend the bishop’s conditions unless the chief investigator presented more information to the court via an affidavit.

Mr Rafferty said “there was no power for police to vary bail” as per section 54 of the bail act.

Bishop Saunders is currently not allowed to make contact with at least three people.

On April 17 WA Police also revealed detectives had charged Bishop Saunders with two counts of unlawful and indecent assault as a result of their investigation into alleged historical sexual offences from 2016.

On Monday the court was told the alleged offending from 2016 occurred in Minyirr. Bishop Saunders only spoke to say he confirmed the two new charges.

“It will be alleged in 2016, the man sexually assaulted a man who was 21 or 22 years old at the time of the offence,” the police statement said.

Bishop Saunders has previously denied any wrongdoing, but it is unknown what he will plead to the two new charges.

Sgt. Miles told the court the police investigation into the bishop was ongoing and dynamic and that most of the potential witnesses resided in Broome.

Sgt. Miles said at least one of those witnesses worked at a hospitality venue in town.

Magistrate Deen Potter adjourned the committal mention until July 8, with the bishop’s current bail conditions set to remain until at least then.

He is also now due to front court on September 9 — where he is likely to indicate a plea to the full list of charges.

While arriving — and leaving — the court in a taxi, the bishop did not respond to a series of questions posed by The West Australian. He wore a face mask to cover his face from cameras when leaving the courthouse.

The bishop was slammed with 19 sex offence charges in February — including two counts of sexual penetration without consent, 14 counts of unlawful and indecent assault, and three counts of a person in authority indecently dealing with a child.

7NEWS revealed bishop Saunders had been arrested at his Broome home by child abuse squad detectives — before charges were laid against him the following day.

During his first appearance on the charges from February, the court was told the alleged offending occurred between March 2008 and March 2014 in Broome, Kununurra and Kalumburu.

In the same appearance, his lawyer, Seamus Rafferty, requested a suppression order restricting media coverage of proceedings, telling the court the reporting had jeopardised his client’s right to a fair trial.

Magistrate Deen Potter granted a temporary suppression order, but at a special hearing in Broome Magistrates Court on March 1, Mr Potter ruled that it should be lifted on the basis of “open justice”.

“Going forward, in my view, there are sufficient safeguards in place (that will) ensure the interests of ... a fair trial,” he said.

The ruling allows all the details of the proceedings to be published, including additional charges of inadequate storage of a firearm and holding a firearm without a licence.

The bishop was allegedly found with more than 1200 rounds of ammunition and a shotgun in his Broome home in December 2023.

Bishop Saunders has become the highest-ranked Catholic in the country to face a sex crimes prosecution after the acquittal of Cardinal George Pell in 2020.

It is believed he is the highest-ranked official of any religion in Australia to face such accusations

Bishop Saunders was ordained as a priest in 1976 and moved full-time to the Kimberley region before becoming a Bishop in 1996.

He resigned from his position in Broome in August 2021 but has retained his title and entitlements.

National Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline: 1800 RESPECT