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	Morris Prosecutor Says He Has Evidence Man Charged with Killing Chatham Priest Had Gotten 11-year-old Girl Pregnant By Peggy Wright Daily Record September 12, 2011 http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20110912/NJNEWS/309120022/Morris-prosecutor-says-he-has-evidence-man-charged-with-killing-Chatham-priest-had-gotten-11-year-old-girl-pregnant Selection of a jury for the murder trial of Jose Feliciano was abruptly suspended Monday in Morristown when a prosecutor disclosed he may try to introduce evidence that Feliciano impregnated an 11-year-old girl years ago. Feliciano, now 66 and the father of two children, is charged with stabbing the Rev. Edward Hinds 32 times in the kitchen of the rectory of St. Patrick’s Church in Chatham on Oct. 22, 2009. Authorities allege that the 61-year-old pastor planned to fire Feliciano, the church janitor for 17 years, after learning he was wanted in Philadelphia since 1988 for a sexual-related offense against a little girl. Feliciano, on Oct. 24, 2009, confessed he stabbed the priest but alleged he lost control when the priest insisted he wanted them to continue a homosexual relationship. With no potential jurors present in court Monday, Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi disclosed that he might try to bring out at trial that Feliciano impregnated a child to impeach his credibility if the defendant chooses to testify in his own behalf. Prosecutors got hold of this information that was contained in sealed court papers in New York. Bianchi said he also would likely introduce to the jury, if Feliciano testified, that he was wanted in Philadelphia since 1988 for indecent assault on a different child. The possibility that Bianchi might try to introduce the pregnancy case infuriated defense lawyer Neill Hamilton, who said the state could expect a reversal of any conviction if such prejudicial evidence emerged. Hamilton was aware the state had spoken to that victim and her mother but Superior Court Judge Thomas V. Manahan said he was hearing about the impregnation for the first time Monday. Bianchi and Hamilton argued back and forth at length and finally, the judge said he would suspend jury selection and hold an evidentiary hearing this week on exactly what “prior bad acts” from Feliciano’s past could be used at trial. The judge previously had conducted such a hearing about the Philadelphia charges against Feliciano but had not fully ruled on precisely what information a jury could hear about that case. Bianchi revealed minimal information about the impregnated child in court but did so in the course of a court discussion about questions to be asked of potential jurors. Hamilton, as of Monday, didn’t want jurors to be asked whether they would have any biases if they heard Feliciano had been accused of sexual improprieties. Bianchi said he didn’t want Hamilton to argue later that jurors weren’t asked their feelings if testimony on the subject came out. The lawyers spent several days last week in court where numerous potential jurors were excused for hardship. Tuesday was supposed to be the first day of examining potential jurors’ feelings about the nature of the case. Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@njpressmedia.com
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