Prosecutor Alleged that Hillsong's Brian Houston Built a Culture of Silence to Prevent the Reporting of His Father's Crime

Former Hillsong leader and the megachurch's founder Brian Houston is back in court today. Houston, 69, has pleaded not guilty to one count of concealing the serious indictable offence of another person, arguing he was merely abiding by the wishes of his father's victim by not going to police. He argues that from September 1999 until his father's death in 2004, he had a "reasonable excuse" not to go to police because of the man's unwillingness to come forward.

The court has heard that Brett Sengstock was sexually assaulted by Frank Houston, who was staying at his family's Coogee home in Sydney's eastern suburbs, while on a preaching tour of Australia. 

Today in presenting in closing address, Crown prosecutor Gareth Harrison argued that Houston has built a culture of silence, where church leaders are taught not talk to the police about his father's crimes. That culture allowed Houston to become "the only conduit of information" between the Assemblies of God national executive and the person his father abused. 

"If it was his only focus to protect the church, he would tell as few people as possible, would he not?" Magistrate Gareth Christofi asked.

"Whatever he told these people, he knew they weren't going to go to the police," Mr Harrison said.

"Not one of these people mentioned the police. That just demonstrates absolutely the culture of this church was to keep it in-house, don't go outside the church.

"With that confident knowledge, he was able to conceal this from the police." 

An "entrenched reverence" towards Pentecostal founding father Frank Houston also fostered protection, Crown prosecutor Gareth Harrison said on Thursday. "It was in this setting ... the accused knew he could control the narrative and protect the church and his father," Mr Harrison said in closing submissions to Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court.

The closing submissions resume on Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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