February 04, 2005

Child-Rape Case Against Ex-Priest Is Before the Jury

CAMBRIDGE (MA)
Washington Post

By Jonathan Finer
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 4, 2005; Page A03

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 3 -- On the final day of testimony in the trial of defrocked priest Paul R. Shanley, attorneys for both sides focused closing arguments Thursday on the validity of his lone accuser's account of sexual abuse forgotten for decades and then remembered.

The case, which includes two counts of child rape and two counts of indecent assault and battery, was left to a 12-member jury, which deliberated for half an hour before adjourning until Friday morning.

Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Stephen A. Neel threw out a third count of child rape earlier this week for lack of evidence.

Defense attorney Frank Mondano said the accuser, a 27-year-old firefighter who has asked not to be identified, was manipulated by personal-injury lawyers bent on pursuing a civil suit against Shanley.

"The core facts in this case are just not true," Mondano said.

Posted by kshaw at February 4, 2005 05:21 AM