Church of Scientology Accused of Hampering Criminal Inquiry in Australia

In light of today’s conviction of the Church of Scientology in France, this story from Australia may be of interest. The Church is being accused of actively subverting an investigation into the death of Australian private Edward Alexander McBride. The Church allegedly ordered that McBride’s “auditing file” be sent to the United States before the arrival of a warrant from coroner John Lock.

McBride had completed a $25,000 Scientology course shortly killing himself. The Church refused to supply evidence to the coroner in a case that many are analogizing to other cases like that of Lisa McPherson where the Church resisted demands for information.

Coroner John Lock found that “something unusual happened” to McBride and wanted to see his file. Shortly before his death, Church members repeatedly called him on his cell phone and sent text and voice messages mentioning an “audit” and “LRH” – a reference to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Australian Church of Scientology spokeswoman Vicki Dunstan said the audit file was returned to the “mother church” in the US and would not be of any use to investigators.

For the story, click here.