Alleged Victim of Catholic Priest Concedes Sliding Door Memory Is False
By Christopher Knaus
A Canberra woman has conceded her memory of hearing a Catholic priest open a sliding door before molesting her in the kitchen is false. The ACT Supreme Court trial of Father Edward Evans, 85, entered its third day on Friday, with the priest's barrister continuing to cross-examine his accuser. The woman alleges was touched inappropriately by "Father Eddie" during morning teas at his Braddon home following church on Sundays. She alleges he put his hands down her pants and touched her bottom three times, digitally penetrated her twice in his kitchen, and abused her while they sat alone in a car outside Cooleman Court. The girl was aged between 10 and 13, while Father Evans was in his 60s. In her original police interview, she told detectives she clearly remembered the morning tea when she was first digitally penetrated. She said she was told to go and get something from the accused's kitchen, and recalled the noise of the sliding door behind her. The woman told police the sound made her turn around and panic when she saw Father Evans following her in, before he pressed himself against her and sexually assaulted her. But defence barrister Steven Whybrow challenged that story on Friday morning. He said there was no sliding door at the home, and questioned where that memory had come from, describing it as a "very powerful recollection" she gave to police and an "integral part" of her memory. She acknowledged that her memory was wrong, but said she remembered hearing the sound of a door. The woman said it was not a memory that greatly affected her emotionally, and that the police interview was the first time she had talked about the details of the abuse. Mr Whybrow said: "What you have alleged against him did not happen, do you understand what I'm putting to you?" She responded: "I do understand that, but I don't agree with it." Later on Friday, Mr Whybrow questioned her over how Father Evans could have possibly put his hand down the back of her pants while she was sitting at a dining table with others. He also asked how she and the priest could have been alone in the kitchen, when her mother was constantly moving around to serve people during the morning teas. The woman's husband gave evidence that she mentioned being abused by a priest to him. He also gave evidence of meeting Father Evans, and of making sure he was always with their children when he was around. The trial continues before Justice Richard Refshauge on Monday.
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