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	Priest to Deny All Claims of Abuse at College Parramatta Sun February 6, 2008 http://parramatta.yourguide.com.au/news/national/crime/priest-to-deny-all-claims-of-abuse-at-college/1176710.html THE TRIAL of a Catholic priest charged with sexual offences began in the Launceston Supreme Court yesterday. Roger Michael Bellemore, 72, is alleged to have sexually molested three boys while he was a teacher at Marist College in Burnie nearly 40 years ago. He has previously pleaded not guilty to three counts of maintaining a sexual relationship with a young person under the age of 17. Crown prosecutor Michael Stoddart told the jury in his opening address he would be calling several witnesses in the course of the trial, including the brother of one of the alleged victims, former Marist College prefects, a Catholic priest who taught at the college, and Hobart-based psychiatrist Dr Ian Sale. Mr Stoddart said that at the time the alleged abuse occurred, the three boys were aged between 12 and 15 and were boarders at the college. Defence lawyer Greg Walsh said Fr Bellemore would also take the stand during the trial and would deny the allegations. The prosecution's first witness and one of the three alleged victims yesterday told the court he had gone to Fr Bellemore's room on the priest's instructions, where he alleges the abuse took place on four separate occasions. He said the first instance occurred after he was told to see Fr Bellemore, who was in charge of the school's infirmary, when he was injured playing rugby, and the priest had told him he was "too busy", and to come up to his room "after lights out". The trial continues in the Launceston Supreme Court at 10am today.
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