The former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders has faced court on two new charges of historical sexual offences in the Kimberley. 

The 74-year-old is facing 28 charges in total, including two counts of sexual penetration without consent, three counts of indecent dealing with a child and 16 counts of unlawful and indecent assault.

In April, police charged the former Bishop Saunders with two new counts of unlawful and indecent assault, which are alleged to have occurred in 2016. 

The other historical charges are alleged to have taken place in different towns in the Kimberley between 2008 and 2014. 

Mr Saunders arrived alone in a taxi to court on Monday for his hearing.

Magistrate Deen Potter read the two new charges to Mr Saunders, and he replied he understood each. 

He also faces six charges of inadequate storage of firearms and being unlicensed to possess a firearm or ammunition. 

‘More than 200’ people on police witness list 

Police Prosecutor Kristy Miles requested Mr Saunders’s bail be varied, so more individuals could be added to the protective conditions. 

“This is an evolving investigation, it’s dynamic,” she said. 

“There is a cause for consideration of these persons.” 

She told the court there were “more than 200 people” on the police witness list, with many residing in Broome. 

Mr Saunders’ defence lawyer Seamus Rafferty indicated his client would plead not guilty to all charges in a previous court hearing. 

Mr Rafferty appeared via audio link on Monday and raised concern over the prosecution’s application of varying his client’s bail.  

“They have to show the likelihood these people require protective conditions,” he said. 

Mr Rafferty told the court police needed “very good grounds” to alter his client’s bail, given some of the potential witnesses resided in Broome. 

“It has not been well thought through,” he said. 

Magistrate Potter said there may be potential for an “inadvertent breach”, and that he wanted to find out more about the witnesses before changing any aspects of Mr Saunders’s bail. 

“I want an opportunity to consider this bail application … as to why these individuals should be included in protective bail,” he said. 

Mr Saunders is due to appear in court for the bail variation application on July 8, with his bail extended on the same terms. 

All of Mr Saunders’s charges were listed for a committal mention date in September.