SASKATOON (CANADA)
The Star Phoenix [Toronto, Canada]
August 18, 2021
By Bre McAdam
The Crown and defence consented to Anthony Tei Atter’s committal during a preliminary hearing in Humboldt on Aug. 9.
A Saskatchewan Catholic priest charged with sexual offences against a minor was committed to stand trial after a preliminary hearing in Humboldt last week.
The Crown and defence consented to Father Anthony Tei Atter’s committal after the complainant testified on Aug. 9, defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle confirmed.
Testimony heard during preliminary hearings is banned from publication to preserve an accused’s right to a fair trial. A trial date will eventually be set in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench.
Atter, 45, was charged with sexual assault, sexual interference and sexual exploitation on Dec. 13, 2020 in connection with alleged incidents between Sept. 1 and Nov. 4, 2020.
A charge of sexual interference is laid when a sexual assault complainant is under the age of 16.
Atter — the priest responsible for the parishes of St. Gregory in St. Gregor, Sask., St. Ann in Annaheim, Sask., and St. Anthony in Lake Lenore, Sask. — was removed from the ministry after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon learned of his charges.
The charges relate to a single complainant and there is no evidence to suggest there would be others, RCMP have said.