By David Lindsay
Malta Independent
August 27, 2011
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=131063
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Convicted paedophile priest Godwin Scerri did not escape justice in Malta when he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment earlier this month for the sexual abuse of boys at the St Joseph Home, and the Ontario Provincial Police are determined that he does not escape their grasp for a second time.
But long before charges were levelled against Fr Scerri in Malta in 2003, in 1993, he had been charged in Canada for similar offences but had escaped Canadian justice after fleeing to Malta.
In fact, according to Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Dave Rektor, who was quoted in yesterday's edition of the Windsor Sun: "The Crown attorney is presently reviewing the case and exploring the options of extradition."
Fr Scerri was found guilty of having abused boys in the home's care earlier this month, along with another priest, Carmel Pulis, who has since been defrocked by the Vatican. A Vatican decision on the defrocking of Fr Scerri is expected by not later than October.
But, in the meantime, the Ontario Provincial Police, in an article published in the Windsor Star yesterday, insist they are anxious to see Fr Scerri extradited to Canada to face paedophilia charges for offences allegedly committed as far back as 1983, after which he had "fled" to Malta.
"It's still an open case here and we are very anxious to get Godwin Scerri in our custody to answer to these charges," OPP Sgt. Dave Rektor told the Windsor Star.
Fr Scerri has been sentenced in Malta to five years' imprisonment for sexual abuse, but narrowly avoided a rape conviction due to a technical mistake in the charge sheet.
But now that the case against Fr Scerri has been concluded, appeals pending, the Ontario police are eager to see Fr Scerri face Canadian justice.
The Ontario police had resurrected the case as a cold case last year, actually in the week before the Pope visited Malta last in April 2010, and a detective inspector and two detective constables from the criminal investigations branch have been assigned to the case.
"He eluded police, went to Malta when the charges surfaced," Sgt Rektor told the newspaper. "We are now in the process of trying to get him back here to answer to the allegations here; the serious allegations here."
Moreover, Fr Scerri could face additional charges for having absconded Canadian authorities after a warrant for his arrest had been issued.
"I'm not certain what the evidence would reveal," Sgt Rektor was quoted as saying. "They [prosecutors) look at the whole package and decide what appropriate charges would be issued. But certainly, there is a vested interest in bringing this man back to Canada."
The charges
Fr Scerri was charged in June 1993 for sexually abusing minors between 1983 and 1987 when he served at St William's Church in Emeryville. Fleeing, he had returned to Malta.
The complaint against Fr Scerri alleged that the abuse, which began when the boy was 12 years old, occurred between 1983 and 1987 on Pelee Island and Emeryville, when Fr Scerri worked as a priest at St William's Church.
But he never faced charges since he had returned to Malta in the interim period and was then transferred to the St Joseph orphanage in Sta Venera, where he has been found guilty of having committed similar offences.
Should Fr Scerri have his day in the Canadian courts, he faces a potentially long sentence.
In fact, Fr Scerri is one of a total of 22 priests from the London diocese who have been convicted, charged or sued for sexual abuse.
Of the 14 cases that have been concluded against priests from the diocese, 13 of the priests had pleaded guilty and received sentences for various sexual crimes ranging from three years probation to five years in prison.
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