The defence lawyer for accused child molester Brother 'Kostka' Chute told a court on Thursday the judge would find the former teacher had abused children as charged.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
John William Chute, 86, is on trial for 16 counts of child sexual abuse while he was a teacher at Marist College Canberra in the 1970s and 1980s.
Mr Chute, who was known as Brother Kostka at Marist, was excused from attending court due to declining health. He is the subject of an ACT Supreme Court special hearing, with no jury, due to his condition.
Justice David Mossop heard closing submissions from both sides on Thursday, before reserving his judgment which he will deliver next week.
Defence barrister Greg Walsh has not brought any evidence in support of Mr Chute and has chosen not to cross-examine any alleged victims or other witnesses.
In closing he admitted his submission was an unusual one, before telling Justice Mossop he could be satisfied the acts had occurred as accused.
The court heard evidence from the final of six alleged victims by way of a recorded police interview.
The man broke down repeatedly in the video as he recounted the acts of abuse Mr Chute had allegedly committed upon him two to three times per week as a year 7 student.
He said Mr Chute would take him out of class regularly and take him to his office and would molest him.
He said Mr Chute also took him to the chapel and his personal dormitory where, on occasions, the teacher forced him to perform oral sex on him.
He said Mr Chute would tell him that it was ok to do these things and that even God approved, that it was part of his job to help the boys grow into men.
"He could make you love him," the man said.
"At the same time you hated his guts, because you knew it was wrong.
"It's almost like he went to some school to learn this crap."
He recalled one instance where Mr Chute beat him with a large purple bible and said the abuse only ended when he punched Mr Chute.
"He couldn't take it [violence], but he could give it out."
The man said the abuse he had suffered at the hands of Mr Chute left him afraid to speak out and eventually caused the breakdown of his marriage.
"But he never won, because I'm still alive."
The matter will return to court next week for a verdict.
