By a Broken Rites researcher

• Article posted 14 July 2013

A Catholic religious Brother appeared in a Queensland magistrates court on 3 June 2013, charged with sexual assault.

Police arrested the Brother in May 2013, placing him on bail pending the court proceedings.

The case relates to one alleged incident. The alleged victim was not a student or a child.

The Brother, who occupies a senior position in a Catholic school in regional Queensland, indicated in court through his lawyer that he intends to contest the allegation.

The magistrates court adjourned the case to another date, to allow time for the prosecutors to provide a brief of evidence to the defendant's lawyers.

On the case's next mention day, when the court will consider the next step in the process, the defendant can be represented by a lawyer instead of attending personally. Meanwhile, the Brother continues to be on bail.

In Queensland, the name of any defendant in a case such as this cannot be published during these preliminary proceedings in a magistrates court.

The school, where the Brother works, sent a letter to parents on 20 May 2013, stating that this Brother was taking leave from the school pending the court proceedings.

The letter stated: "The matter does not concern any student or young person."