CAMBRIDGE (MA)
TheBostonChannel.com
POSTED: 6:45 am EST February 1, 2005
UPDATED: 7:01 am EST February 1, 2005
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Paul Shanley's lawyer plans to call one witness - a well-known psychologist who has challenged the reliability of recovered memory -- in defense of the defrocked priest who is on trial for child rape.
Following an off day, attorney Frank Mondano will begin presenting his case on Wednesday by calling Elizabeth Loftus, a University of California psychologist, to testify about recovered memory. She may not be available until Thursday, Mondano said.
Prosecutors rested their case Monday after a former classmate of his accuser testified that Shanley and the boy left Sunday school classes together on several occasions.
Prosecutors have said Shanley, one of the most notorious figures in the clergy sex abuse scandal, would pull the boy from catechism classes at St. Jean's parish in Newton in order to rape him in the church confessional, pews, rectory and bathroom.
Brendan Moriarty said several boys, including Shanley's accuser, frequently were sent out of the classroom when they became rowdy. He said he recalled seeing Shanley and his accuser leaving the classroom together.
On Monday, Judge Stephen Neel threw out one of the three child rape charges. That leaves Shanley facing two counts of raping a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child. The maximum sentence would be life in prison.
Posted by kshaw at February 1, 2005 06:38 AM