Medical drama halts ex-priest's sex case

By Samantha-Jo Harris
Armidale Express
October 22, 2014

http://www.armidaleexpress.com.au/story/2643440/medical-drama-halts-ex-priests-sex-case/?cs=12

The defrocked priest at an earlier Armidale Court hearing.

THE hearing into a defrocked priest facing historic child sexual abuse charges was halted on Wednesday after the prosecutor was rushed to hospital suffering chest pains.

Just after lunch, Peter Woods complained he was “feeling flat”, before walking out of the courtroom clutching his chest.

Later, court staff said Mr Woods had been complaining of symptoms which indicated a problem with his heart, but he said he was feeling no pain when treated by the paramedics.

Crown solicitor Edward Freelander, who had been in the district court, offered to step up for the hearing, which was expected to involve the cross-examination of three witnesses, including one of the complainants.

The committal was to determine which witnesses would be needed to give evidence when the case went to trial.

But Mr Freelander said his superiors had advised against him acting on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions as it could affect the case in the trial.

Magistrate Karen Stafford agreed to adjourn the case in the “unusual circumstances” with the committal expected to resume on November 18.