Father Alec Stevenson thought he’d left his life in New Zealand behind when he walked out on his young wife and children and moved to Australia in 1970.
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But four decades and two new wives later, a Canberra courtroom has brought the priest face-to-face with the woman he left all those years ago, but never divorced.
Mr Stevenson is now facing two charges of bigamy for re-marrying twice, once in 1974 and again in 2002, but never formally ending his first union.
The migrant came from New Zealand to start a new life in the 1970s, later becoming a priest with the Liberal Catholic Church, which does not enforce celibacy.
He trained as a formal celebrant, presiding over wedding ceremonies on multiple occasions and learning the legal ins and outs of marriage.
The priest, now 70, is arguing his actions were an honest or reasonable mistake, which is a defence against the Commonwealth crime of bigamy.
On Tuesday, Mr Stevenson and his first wife saw each other in court for the first time since he left her in 1970.
Magistrate Beth Campbell asked the woman if she was OK, after learning it was the pair’s first encounter since the night they fought, Mr Stevenson kicked her, and then walked out.
The woman told the ACT Magistrates Court she had never applied for a divorce, saying it was too expensive, and never received any divorce papers from Mr Stevenson.
She also denied ever talking to him about wanting a divorce before he left her.
The priest, who is representing himself, apologised to his wife before beginning to ask her questions about her evidence.
’’I just wanted to begin by saying I’m sorry you’re even here,’’ he said.
In an earlier police interview, Mr Stevenson claimed the woman had told him she was going to get a divorce.
He said he had thought coming to Australia meant his new marriage would not conflict with his nuptials in New Zealand, and assumed there would be appropriate ‘‘checks and balances’’ before his later marriages were recognised.
‘‘I always acted in what I believed to be good faith,’’ he said.
‘‘I believed certain things had been done and certain promises had been kept.’’
The allegations came to light when his second wife, who had no knowledge of the woman before her, recently began researching after a question from her daughter.
‘‘This has the potential to really wreck my life, it’s already wrecked my life,’’ he told police.
The priest has been stood down from the Liberal Catholic Church.
The hearing continues in the ACT Magistrates Court in June, when Mr Stevenson is expected to give evidence.
