Virgin Mary okayed intimate union: court

AAP in MSN 9 News (Australia)/June 16, 2005

The Virgin Mary gave permission for a 15-year-old girl to have an "intimate union" with a religious leader who is now standing trial on sexual assault charges, a Sydney court was told.

William Kamm, 55, also known as The Little Pebble, is standing trial on four counts of aggravated indecent assault and one of aggravated sexual intercourse without consent, in the NSW District Court.

The alleged assault took place at a commune based near Nowra on the NSW south coast in 1993.

Kamm appointed the girl as one of his 12 queens after receiving instruction from Mary that they should serve as his spiritual wives and eventually spawn a holy tribe of people for God.

The alleged victim, who cannot be identified, told how Kamm had a diary in which his followers would ask questions of the mother of God, and she would reply in the same book through him.

"We believed that Mary was writing from his hand," the girl told the court.

The girl, to whom all the charges relate, petitioned Mary through the diary in July 1993 seeking guidance.

Part of the reply written in the book said: "You have permission for an intimate union with your husband at any time but remember to be discreet until the time of the revelation."

The girl still believed that such a union would be spiritual, not sexual, and that she would eventually fall pregnant after having a "holy embrace" with Kamm.

But more than a dozen highly sexualised love letters from Kamm were read out in court in which he repeatedly made clear his intentions to "make love" to her and "ravish" her.

"I intend to arouse you some more because I wish to seduce you to love me deeply," he wrote on August 20, 1993.

The complainant also gave evidence that Kamm kissed her using his tongue on numerous occasions, fondled her breasts during car trips and once parked the car and masturbated her.

The girl had written a number of letters in reply to Kamm but said she felt confused about what was happening.

She said her family was pleased she had been chosen as a queen and considered it a "great honour".

"We believed he was a prophet, a very holy man, a man who was very blessed by heaven," she told the court.

"He was going to be the last pope and in the new era he was going to have many kingdoms and many wives and many different races and tribes."

Although Kamm repeatedly instructed the girl to keep details of their relationship secret he maintained that it was ordained by God.

"No, I do not think you are stupid because you love me - I am very happy because God placed this love in you for me," he wrote in another letter.

Kamm wrote that being holy didn't mean sitting in the corner praying without having any fun.

"Publicly I am always careful and once behind closed doors the Dr Jekyll and Hyde comes out," he wrote.

Kamm has pleaded not guilty to all charges and the trial continues on Thursday.