BishopAccountability.org
	Ex-marist Brother "Not Surprised" by Historic Sex Charges The Voxy November 24, 2010 http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/ex-marist-brother-039not-surprised039-historic-sex-charges/5/73315 Wellington, NZPA Nov 24 - Former Marist brother Bede Hampton was not surprised when police knocked on his door wanting to talk to him about historic sex abuse accusations dating back almost 40 years, a court was told today. Hampton is on trial this week in the High Court of Wellington on multiple indecency charges relating to two boys at a Catholic boarding school where he taught in Masterton in the early 1970s. Hampton, 62, now an interior decorator, returned voluntarily from his home in Queensland where he lived with his wife and two young adult off-spring to defend the allegations. Detective Sergeant Fleur de Bes of Wellington today told the court of travelling to Brisbane in early December 2005 to interview Hampton, arriving unannounced at his home with a local detective sergeant, Charles Heron. The accused was not there but, when they returned later, he answered the door. The detectives identified themselves and he took them to his office on the property away from the house. Hampton did not seem surprised when they said they wanted to talk about historic sex charges. "If I could turn the clock back I would," he told them. Hampton was informed that the interview would be taped and Ms de Bes read him his rights. On the recording played to the jury, he said he was aware police needed to talk to him about what had happened in the past. "It has never happened again. After that, I left the order." Hampton said he had already spoken to his family on the subject and would come to New Zealand for any court process. Ms de Bes told the court Hampton did not return to this country until May last year. She met him and his two solicitors. The accused declined to make a statement, saying he had been advised not to. Hampton was arrested and charged. Since then, he had twice returned voluntarily for court fixtures, including the trial. The last prosecution witness -- a former principal of St Joseph's College, which closed in the 1980s - will be heard tomorrow. The trial is scheduled to run into next week. Hampton, who has been sitting impassively in the dock with his gaze focussed on witnesses, is remanded at large when sittings are not in progress on condition he not associate with the two alleged victims, men now in their early 50s. The trial continues tomorrow.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.