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	Attempted Murder, Sex Assault Trial Delayed for Las Vegas Priest Las Vegas Sun July 24, 2007 http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2007/jul/24/072410972.html Las Vegas — Trial has been postponed until January for a Roman Catholic priest who could face life in prison if convicted of sexually attacking and trying to kill a church soloist. Lawyers cited scheduling conflicts Tuesday in pushing back from July 31 to Jan. 8 the start of the Rev. George Chaanine's trial in Clark County District Court on charges including attempted murder with a deadly weapon, battery with substantial bodily harm, sexual assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping. Chaanine, 53, remains held at the Clark County jail on $1 million bail after pleading not guilty to allegations he attacked the woman last Jan. 26 in an Our Lady of Las Vegas Catholic Church office. The woman accused Chaanine of hitting her in the head with a wine bottle, groping her and choking her until she began praying and he suddenly stopped and fled. Chaanine was arrested almost a week later near Phoenix. Both sides have said Chaanine's relationship with his accuser was more than priest and parishioner. They have not said the two were romantically involved. The woman testified at Chaanine's preliminary hearing that he gave her money to help pay her bills and mortgage and treated her to lunch daily. Chaanine was suspended with pay by the Diocese of Las Vegas, which is not paying for his defense.
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