Catholic priest told police alleged victim looking for love

By Michael Inman
Sydney Morning Herald
March 31, 2015

http://www.smh.com.au/act-news/catholic-priest-told-police-alleged-victim-looking-for-love-20150331-1mbusc.html

Father Edward Evans, who is on trial for allegedly sexually abusing a young girl in Canberra.

A former Catholic priest accused of molesting a friend's daughter told police the girl was always looking for love.

Father Edward Evans admitted to the police he had touched the girls bottom, but said it had been an affectionate gesture and not sexual.

Father Evans, 85, is on trial in the ACT Supreme Court on charges of committing acts of indecency and sexual assault on the girl in the 1990s.

He has pleaded not guilty.

The girl was aged between 10 and 13 years, and Father Evans in his 60s at the time of the alleged offences.

The Crown alleges the abuse occurred at Father Evans' home on five occasions and at Cooleman Court on another occasion.

It is alleged he put his hands down the girl's pants to grab her bottom three times, and digitally penetrated her twice in his kitchen. 

He also allegedly touched her breast as they sat alone in a car outside a southside shopping centre, before pulling her on top of him into a straddling position. 

The trial – which entered its fifth day on Tuesday – has previously heard the girl's family was close to Father Evans, who they referred to as "Father Eddie".

They would invite him for dinner, often picking him up and dropping him off on those occasions.

The family would sometimes attend his German-language masses in Braddon and most of the alleged abuse occurred at mornings teas he hosted afterwards.

On Tuesday, jurors were played the police interview with the defendant, which lasted more than two hours.

During the interview, the priest admitted he had touched the girl's bottom and that it had been wrong.

But he said the contact had been a "sign of affection" and not sexual.

He told police he thought "she had forgiven me" and all had been "forgiven and forgotten".

Fathers Evans denied touching the girl's breasts and said he had tried to avoid her as he thought it "dangerous".

He said she gave him the impression she had been looking for love as she was affectionate with people.

The court has previously heard evidence from the alleged victim's mother and father, who both said she had been an affectionate child who would sit on the laps of strangers.

The mother said she had trusted Father Evans as he had been "the representative of God".

The prosecution is expected to close its case on Wednesday.