Accused Australian Pedophile Murdered, NEWS.com.au, July 21, 2009

Accused Australian Pedophile 'Murdered'

NEWS.com.au
July 21, 2009

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25814343-401,00.html

ADELAIDE'S Anglican Church is trying to confirm reports a former chaplain accused of sexually abusing pupils at Saint Peters College has been murdered in Libya.

Archbishop Jeffrey Driver said reports John Mountford had been found dead in his Tripoli apartment at the weekend had not yet been confirmed.

"This has been a sad and difficult experience," Mr Driver said.

Accused pedophile ... former Adelaide college chaplain John Mountford was reportedly murdered in Libya.

"A violent death is always a tragedy and causes shock and sadness for family and friends; I recognise that.

"But I also recognise that reports of Mr Mountford's death may stir difficult emotions for some and my thoughts and prayers are with them."

Mr Mountford was charged with sexually abusing students at the prominent boys' school, but the trial collapsed after his extradition from Thailand.

A second trial reportedly collapsed in 2007 and the charges against Mr Mountford were subsequently dropped.

Adelaide friends of Mr Mountford told the Independent Weekly the former chaplain was stabbed to death in Tripoli, where he had been living for two years, shortly after returning from London to celebrate his mother's birthday.

Mr Mountford reportedly claimed to friends that people in Tripoli, where he had established an English language school that was in no way connected to the Anglican Church, were blackmailing him and threatening to reveal his past in Adelaide.

Mr Mountford was charged with five counts of indecent assault, two of procuring the commission of an act of gross indecency and one of unlawful sexual intercourse in 2005.

He allegedly always claimed he was innocent and said he wanted the case heard.

The victim reportedly received an out of court settlement earlier this year.

"Over recent years the church has had to confront some disturbing issues related to the abuse of those in its care and I take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has been affected by abuse to make contact with our professional standards director," Archbishop Driver said.