Self-proclaimed Indigenous healer Joseph Luke Williams to stand trial over 12 counts of sexual assault

An award-winning Indigenous tourism operator and self-proclaimed healer from Denmark will stand trial in Albany today after he allegedly sexually assaulted four women under the guise of traditional healing. Joseph Luke “Joey” Williams, 58, will face Albany District Court on 12 counts of sexual penetration without consent and two counts of indecent assault. Mr Williams ran the award-winning Poornarti Aboriginal Tours in the Great Southern and has been on bail since he first faced court over the charges in November 2019. State prosecutor Beau Sertorio will allege Mr Williams induced women under false pretences in which the alleged sexual acts of “touching and penetration were part of traditional ceremony and rituals”. In a trial callover hearing in Albany yesterday, the court was told Mr Williams allegedly assaulted his victims between 2009 and 2014. The alleged incidents happened across WA, including in Denmark, the Stirling Range, Perth and Broome. With his bail renewed yesterday, Mr Williams is only allowed to travel to and from his home in Denmark for the duration of the trial, which is expected to run for 10-12 days. He must report to the Albany police station 30 minutes before the start of court proceedings on each day of the trial. He must also wait for 30 minutes after the jury has left the court at the end of each day to ensure no inadvertent contact with members that might jeopardise the trial. Judge Peter Stevenson told Mr Williams he was not allowed to go on shopping trips, get coffee or visit other people during the trial. On his Poornarti Aboriginal Tours website, Mr Williams described himself as an Aboriginal elder, cultural adviser and lore man, who has “mastered the ancient technique of vibrational healing passed onto him through his ancestral lineage”. Poonarti’s tourism offerings include water healing, vibrational healing and soul camps. The business won two awards at the 2017 Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry Great Southern Business Awards. Poornarti also won the 2017 Small Business Development Corporation WA’s Aboriginal business award. The trial is due to start at 10am today.