By Angela Hong
WHAM
July 19, 2011
http://www.13WHAM.com/news/local/story/Jury-Deliberations-in-Flowers-Trial-Begin-Tuesday/egnUhQzHzkS0DopSrEjK9A.cspx
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Rochester, N.Y. —The jury begins deliberations this morning on whether or not a pastor is guilty of sexually abusing a boy who went to his church.
On Monday, the defense and prosecution made closing arguments in the trial against Bishop Joe Flowers. Flowers is charged with second degree course of sexual contact against a child who is under the age of 13.
The victim claims that Flowers sexually abused him in Flowers' home over a three year period starting when he was 8-years-old. Flowers is the founder and pastor the Walk of Life Christian Center in Rochester.
During closing arguments, the defense claimed that the people's case was "infested with reasonable doubt." Flowers' attorney, Maurice Verrillo, asked the jury to consider that there was no evidence of abuse, no eyewitnesses --and also directed them to question why the victim's mother didn't report the abuse right away.
"Because [the abuse] never happened," Verrillo says.
The defense went on to point out to the jury how the victim had a history of lying. During the prosecution's closing arguments, assistant district attorney, Kristina Karle asked the jury what the victim would gain from lying about the abuse.
"He would have everything to lose," Karle says.
During the trial, the victim claimed Flowers would touch his genitals and anus, ask the victim to lotion his body and that Flowers would walk around naked.
The prosecution claims these allegations aren't something a child would be able to make up.
"This child had to come to this courtroom and to testify about horrific facts about sexual abuse and that's never easy to go into a courtroom full of strangers, jurors, judge and the person that did it," Karle says. "This little boy had the courage to come into the courtroom and he told his story."
Jury deliberations will begin around 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Contact: ahong@13WHAM.com
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