Former Priest David Rapson Granted Six-month Wait before Retrial

By Adam Cooper
The Age
August 21, 2014

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/former-priest-david-rapson-granted-sixmonth-wait-before-retrial-20140821-106p9h.html

A former priest who this month had convictions for sexually abusing eight boys at a Catholic boarding school quashed has been granted a six-month wait before a retrial.

David Rapson, 61, was last year jailed for a minimum 10 years after he was found guilty by a County Court jury of five counts of rape and eight charges of indecent assault related to the abuse of eight boys at the school between the mid-1970s and 1990.

But the Court of Appeal this month overturned the convictions after the Office of Public Prosecutions conceded the 13 charges should not have been heard in the one trial because of differences in the offending that was alleged. Rapson was released on bail.

The Court of Appeal ruled Rapson should face a retrial and that the number of trials to be held should be a matter for the presiding judge.

Rapson appeared briefly in the County Court on Thursday in his first court appearance since the Court of Appeal ruled in his favour.

Defence counsel Shaun Ginsbourg told judge Gavan Meredith a wait of six months would be a "sufficient lapse of time" to ensure his client received a fair hearing.

Judge Meredith ruled that the proceedings against Rapson would start on February 23.

At the Court of Appeal, Rapson's defence team said eight trials were needed - one for each complainant - and prosecutors said three were required.