Cultist faces fresh child sex trial
A CULTIST who claimed he was building the “ideal human environment” will stand trial, for a second time, over his alleged grooming of a 12-yearold sex slave.
In the District Court on Friday, James Salerno – known, by his followers, as “Taipan” – pleaded not guilty to eight counts of unlawful sexual intercourse.
Salerno, 73, was sentenced to 10 years’ jail for repeatedly sexually assaulting the woman during the seven year-period in which his cult operated from an Adelaide Hills mansion. His trial heard the cult’s goal was to create the “ideal human environment”, with followers required to align their “thought patterns” with those of Salerno.
Prosecutors alleged those who failed to meet his standards suffered cruel discipline.
Salerno’s alleged victim claimed women in the group were expected to bathe and service him, and that she had been trained to perform such roles from the age of 12.
In June, however, the Court of Criminal Appeal set aside Salerno's conviction, ordered he be retried and released him on bail. Salerno subsequently “invited” prosecutors to drop the case, insisting he could not be convicted of any offending.
On Friday, however, prosecutors said they would press on with their case regardless.
Salerno, who appeared by telephone link, denied the allegations. His barrister, David Edwardson QC, asked the second trial go ahead next August.
RIO Tinto boss Jean-Sebastien Jacques has revealed two 46,000-year-old caves at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia were destroyed to enable access to $135 million worth of high-grade iron ore.
Senior officials from the mining giant confirmed Rio Tinto had four potential sites in the Pilbara but chose that one for the extra eight million tonnes of iron ore it could mine.
A parliamentary committee has also heard that Rio Tinto was aware of the site’s “exceptional
archaeological and cultural significance” for years, and ignored several opportunities to change its plans.
Chief executive Mr Jacques (pictured) on Friday apologised to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people – who were only told about one of the four options.
Mr Jacques said the destruction of the rock shelters
“should not have happened” and Rio Tinto was taking action to improve its approach.
“We are really sorry for what happened,” Mr Jacques said. “Their pain became very personal for me.”
The mining company was given permission to blast the caves in the Pilbara as part of its iron ore mine expansion. But executives told the hearing they were only made aware of the site’s significance once 66 tonnes of explosives were already “live” in the ground.