[Photo Caption] Maris Barrett, who worked at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Chatham, testifies for the defense that she never saw evidence of a relationship between the Rev. Edward Hinds and Jose Feliciano. Monday was the first day of the defense case of the murder trial of Feliciano, who is charged with murdering Hinds in 2009

A former employee of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Chatham testified Monday that the possibility of the slain Rev. Edward Hinds having a romantic or sexual relationship with admitted killer Jose Ramon Feliciano was “ludicrous.”

Maris Barrett was called as a defense witness at Feliciano’s murder trial in Morristown, but emerged as a witness favorable to the prosecution. Barrett said she had been friendly with Feliciano when he worked as a custodian for the parish and that she got a call from defense lawyer Neill Hamilton during which he asked what she knew about a “relationship” between the priest and the janitor.

“He said that he thought I knew of a relationship that Jose had with Father Ed,” Barrett said. “I don’t know what he was suggesting. I said there was no relationship between Jose and Father Ed.”

Under questioning by Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, who is trying the homicide case, Barrett said she was bothered by the inquiry and what it suggested. Bianchi outright asked her whether she knew of a romantic relationship between the two men. “That’s ludicrous,” and she snapped.

“He was just a wonderful priest. He didn’t have any relationship with anyone that wasn’t aboveboard,” Barrett said.

Feliciano, now 66 and of Easton, Pa., has admitted he stabbed the 61-year-old cleric to death on Oct. 22, 2009, in the kitchen of the rectory, but claims he did so in “a homicidal rage” because the priest had been forcing him into as-yet-unspecified acts and threatened to fire him. The defense hopes to persuade jurors that the killing by 44 stab wounds was the result of passion or provocation and not a deliberate murder.

Prosecutors contend that the priest had become aware that there was an arrest warrant out for Feliciano in Philadelphia on charges involving a minor girl and planned to fire him.

When the trial resumes Tuesday, the defense plans to call Kenneth Mullaney, counsel to the Diocese of Paterson. The defense has said that Feliciano “potentially” may testify; without his testimony, jurors will not know of the acts he alleges the priest forced him to do which Hamilton had alluded to in his trial opening statement.

After Tuesday, there will be a break in the trial until Nov. 28 because of Judge Thomas V. Manahan’s other court obligations.

Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@njpressmedia.com