CAMBRIDGE (MA)
Guardian
Thursday February 3, 2005 1:46 PM
By DENISE LAVOIE
Associated Press Writer
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - The defense in the child rape trial of a former priest is focusing on the validity of repressed memory theories, hoping to debunk a key claim of the 27-year-old accuser in the case.
Paul Shanley's defense was expected to call just one witness - Elizabeth Loftus, a psychologist and memory researcher who is skeptical about the validity of repressed memory theories.
After her testimony is presented Thursday, closing arguments are expected to follow.
On Wednesday, a judge rejected a request from Shanley's attorney to dismiss the child rape and indecent assault charges against the defrocked priest. Attorney Frank Mondano said the evidence showed Shanley's accuser has a false memory of being abused in the 1980s.
``You have either a false memory or a repressed memory, and I submit that the evidence is greater on the false memory theory,'' Mondano said.
Posted by kshaw at February 3, 2005 09:22 AM