A former Catholic bishop accused of sexually abusing young Aboriginal men has been acquitted of several charges mid-trial.
Former Bishop of Broome Christopher Alan Saunders, 76, was fighting 26 sexual assault charges related to three alleged victims at trial in the West Australian District Court.
Judge Martin Flynn told the jury on Friday that it would not be required to reach a verdict on seven charges involving two complainants in the Kimberley region.
These include one count of indecently dealing with a child over 16 under their authority, five counts of unlawful and indecent assault and one count of sexual penetration without consent.
"I have concluded there is no evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty in relation to some counts on the indictment," Judge Flynn said.
"I have found the charges have not been proved, so it will not be necessary for you to return a verdict on those charges."
Saunders remains on trial for 19 offences related to three alleged victims between 2008 and 2019.
His lawyer, Tony Hager, told the court Saunders would not give evidence in his own defence.
Judge Flynn sent the jury home for the day, with the prosecution and defence expected to make closing submissions from Monday.
Prosecutors allege Saunders, known as Brother B by his alleged victims, put on alcohol-fuelled parties at a Catholic Church-owned property to get access to Aboriginal boys and men so he could sexually assault them.
One of his alleged victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave evidence that he met the then-bishop at a Kununurra hotel with a bottle shop after mass in the town.
Saunders allegedly touched the man's genitals and kissed him in a room.
The court heard the pair consumed alcohol together at another location near a lake before Saunders allegedly sexually assaulted the man.
The man said he met Saunders when he was 16 at the bishop's Broome home, where he drank alcohol with a group of other boys.
On another alcohol-fuelled occasion at a beach house near Broome, Saunders allegedly grabbed the man's hand and had him perform a sex act on the clergyman.
The man said he forcefully protested and the bishop told him to watch his language.
Afterwards, Saunders gave the man alcohol and cigarettes and told him he was "one of my best", the jury heard.
The man had battled drugs and alcohol since he was about 14 and was in custody near Derby for alleged family violence offences, the court was told.
He agreed with Saunders's barrister that some parts of his life in the years that followed were a blur due to his consumption of alcohol and drugs.
Closing submissions begin on Monday.
