SYDNEY — William Kamm, 76, and Sandra Susan Mathison, 60, faced a judge-alone trial at Sydney's Downing Centre district court on Tuesday. Both have pleaded not guilty to jointly grooming a girl between 2010 and 2020, during which time the girl was aged between six and 16.

Kamm, also known as "Little Pebble" and leader of the Order of Saint Charbel, has denied inciting the girl to commit an indecent act. He has also denied twice breaching his extended supervision orders by contacting the girl. Crown prosecutor Andrew Norrie told the court Kamm ordered he have 12 wives, referred to as "queens," and that other women, called "princesses," were chosen by the Virgin Mary. Norrie stated these women were on a mission to become impregnated and repopulate society after natural disasters.

The complainant testified that she understood she was to be Kamm's wife when she was six years old. She also testified, "His role was to try to get us to do God's will." Norrie alleged Kamm told the girl during a call when she was six, "Hi, my darling, I can't wait to see you to start this beautiful mission together." The girl agreed to be "spiritually married" to Kamm when she was seven, according to Norrie. He alleged Mathison told the girl she could not be with other boys and had to keep her marriage with Kamm a secret.

Norrie further alleged that in October 2013, Kamm told the then nine-year-old girl to put on her running shoes so he could chase her. Kamm allegedly stated he wanted to lock the girl in a closet to keep her for himself. When the girl told Mathison she was uncomfortable, Mathison allegedly responded that Kamm did not have any dirty thoughts and was only doing God's will, Norrie alleged.

Kamm was released on parole in November 2014, and was placed under supervision orders that barred him from contacting females aged under 17. Norrie alleged Kamm breached this supervision order by talking to the girl over the phone. Norrie also alleged the complainant received a letter from Kamm in December 2019 saying Jesus predicted she would have 45 children. In March 2020, Mathison allegedly told the teenager she could receive Kamm's sperm in a cup to impregnate herself, according to Norrie. Plans for the girl to meet Kamm in person were put on hold as Australia went into lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic. Kamm and Mathison were arrested in September 2024.

Kamm's barrister, David Mulligan, said his client had never physically met the complainant. Mathison's lawyer, Dev Bhutani, said the crown case against his client was "derivative" of the case against Kamm. The trial continues on Wednesday.