Lead

A Sydney court has heard allegations that William Kamm, the self-proclaimed leader of the Order of Saint Charbel, groomed a young girl for more than a decade, telling her it was her "mission from God" to become his "main queen" and bear 45 of his children to repopulate a post-apocalyptic world. Kamm, 76, also known as "Little Pebble," and his co-accused Sandra Susan Mathison, 60, are facing a judge-alone trial at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court, where they have pleaded not guilty to charges of grooming a child under 14 for unlawful sexual activity.

Coverage Comparison

ABC Australia and The Guardian — World have both covered the trial, with ABC providing extensive reporting from the courtroom. The Guardian framed the case as involving the cult leader and his wife, while ABC's reports have focused on the grooming and manipulation alleged by the prosecution and the complainant's testimony.

Key Claims

According to multiple reports, the court heard that Kamm, who saw himself as a pope, visionary, and prophet who sent messages from Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary to his followers, allegedly proclaimed his mission was to repopulate the "new world" by having 12 wives, known as "queens," and 24 "princesses," all expected to bear his children. The complainant, now in her early 20s, testified that she was told she was to be Kamm's "main queen" and bear 45 children. She said she understood she was to be Kamm's wife even when she was as young as six years old.

The court heard that the grooming allegedly began in 2011 when Kamm was in jail for unrelated matters and Mathison facilitated phone calls between him and the girl, who was six at the time. The girl was not allowed to speak during the calls, as they were recorded by the prison, and was referred to using code words. Kamm allegedly told her, "Hi, my darling, I can't wait to see you to start this beautiful mission together," and "I can't wait to meet you, I love you my darling."

The complainant told the court she was excited about the "mission" when she was young, as it was presented to her "positively" and she wanted to participate in carrying out "God's will." However, when she moved to the cult grounds in Nowra in her early teens, she began experiencing panic attacks and suicidal thoughts after Kamm allegedly pressured her into performing sex acts over the phone. She testified that she was brainwashed to such an extent that she feared being "sent to hell" if she escaped, but she decided to leave because "if I stayed, I would pretty much kill myself."

ABC Australia reported that the Order of Saint Charbel has 21 properties and 10 caravans on Koloona Drive at Bangalee, near Nowra, on the NSW South Coast. The Guardian reported that Kamm has also denied inciting the girl to commit an indecent act and twice breaching his extended supervision orders by contacting her.

The complainant told the court that Kamm believed he was a prophet and that he allegedly told her they would go on a cruise to circumvent consent laws. She also said she was told that Kamm was in jail because other queens had regretted "falling away from their missions," so they reported him to the police.

Kamm allegedly told the girl she had a "beautiful mission from God" and that she was to be his "main queen." The court heard that Mathison, also one of Kamm's "queens," allegedly urged the complainant to "stay strong" for her mission and said she could not be with other boys and had to keep her "marriage" with Kamm a secret as the devil would try to tempt her.

The trial continues.