Joeys Sex Fiend Guilty, by Aleks Devic, Geelong Advertiser, June 1, 2011

Joeys Sex Fiend Guilty

By Aleks Devic
Geelong Advertiser
June 1, 2011

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2011/06/01/261151_news.html

SICK: Convicted paedophile Robert Charles Best pleaded guilty this week to six sex abuse-related charges of three boys aged between 11 and 12.

AN evil Christian brother has confessed to sexually abusing a Geelong St Joseph's schoolboy as part of his 20-year reign of terror.

And police revealed yesterday there could be more charges looming against convicted paedophile Robert Charles Best with more complaints being aimed at the former teacher.

The Christian Brothers yesterday also confirmed it had forked out millions of dollars for Best's long and drawn out trials where top barristers, that included Queen's Counsel and Senior Counsel, were hired to get him off dozens of charges.

It can now be revealed Best, who has close links to Cardinal George Pell, pleaded guilty this week to six sex abuse-related charges of three boys aged between 11 and 12.

Information on the 70-year-old pervert's court cases were suppressed until this week after he faced six back-to-back trials spanning a year.

Separate juries convicted him on 21 charges during four trials after he pleaded not guilty.

At another two trials for rape and indecent assault he was acquitted.

Another one of Best's alleged victims died by their own hand after the court committal hearing and the case never proceeded to trial.

In all, the 70-year-old's cruel conduct against 11 young boys occurred between 1969 and 1988 and he has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to 27 charges.

The offending at Newtown's St Joseph's College, to which he pleaded guilty this week, occurred between 1986 and 1988 and charges stemming from his vile actions include two counts of aggravated indecent assault and one count of indecent assault.

Best taught at St Joseph's between 1985 and 1989 and was the year 8 co-ordinator.

He also admitted this week to three sex offences against two children at Box Hill's St Leo's College between 1975 and 1977.

Best's victims were all students from either St Alipius primary school in Ballarat, where he was the headmaster, St Leo's College, Box Hill and Newtown's St Joseph's College.

Detective Sergeant Kevin Carson, who has overseen the investigation, told the Geelong Advertiser he hoped Best's guilty plea would give some satisfaction to the victims.

But he said there were still several alleged victims out there.

"Sadly, I know there are more out there," he said.

"I have got some other statements that indicate further incidents of (alleged) abuse.

"I am aware there are a lot more out there.

"I hope it's (the guilty plea) comforting for those people.

"There has been a lot of sadness, terrible sadness for those families and children."

The Christian Brothers Oceania this week issued a media statement and apologised to the students who were abused.

Executive officer Br Brian Brandon said the Christian brothers were "deeply saddened for by these events", especially by the great distress and suffering caused to these victims and families.

Best was remanded in custody and will return to court on July 25 where the full details of his misconduct will be heard.

PAEDOPHILE PAST

Robert Best's shocking history of sex abuse:

MARCH 1998 Jailed for two years after he indecently assaulted two boys at a Victorian school where he was the headmaster. The Crown prosecution argued he fondled a grade four boy four times in 1969 as he sat next to the student in class pretending to take an interest in his work. It was also argued that he twice abused a grade six boy at the school's sick bay in 1971. But the Court of Appeal later overturned his conviction after he served three months in prison.

JULY 1996 Sentenced to nine months jail wholly suspended. In 1969 Best rubbed an 11-year-old boy's buttocks for 15 minutes as the child stood before his classmates reading aloud the catechism, a document of question-and-answer instruction on Catholic doctrine. Best's lawyers argued it was a display of affection gone wrong.