Brian Houston's right-hand man defends golden handshake given to Hillsong ... trends now
Brian Houston's right-hand man has defended a golden handshake given to Frank Houston after the pedophile preacher's sexual abuse of a child was uncovered, a court has been told.
Hillsong founder Brian Houston is standing trial in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court, where he has denied failing to disclose to police his knowledge of his father Frank Houston's rape of a then seven-year-old boy in the 1970s.
Brett Sengstock was sexually assaulted by Frank Houston inside his family's Coogee home before he says he was 'paid' for his 'silence'.
Brian Houston, 68, has pleaded not guilty to one charge of concealing a serious indictable offence and has argued that Mr Sengstock expressed a desire not to go to authorities.
His defence has also argued that prior to Frank Houston's death in 2004, Brian Houston had made public and media statements about his father's abuse of Mr Sengstock.
Brian Houston (right) is fighting allegations he failed to disclose his father’s sexual abuse
The court has been told that it first came to the church's attention in October 1999 when Mr Sengstock's mother disclosed the matter to travelling evangelical pastor Kevin 'Mad Dog' Mudford.
Mr Mudford then phoned George Aghajanian, the general manager of the Hills Christian Life Centre, of which Brian Houston was the senior pastor.
Mr Aghajanian was given a certificate protecting him from
