By Ben Horowitz
The Star-Ledger
December 13, 2011
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/feliciano_admits_he_initially.html
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| Jose Felicano defendant; testifies in his own trial for the murder of Father Edward Hines of St. Patrick Church in Chatham, during his trial in Morristown. 11/28/11 Photo Jerry McCrea/The Star-Ledger |
Murder defendant Jose Feliciano admitted today that he initially told a Chatham priest he faced unresolved 1988 drug charges from Philadelphia, and not criminal charges involving a child. The drug charges would not have required the priest to fire Feliciano.
The former church custodian acknowledged that he “lied” to the late Rev. Edward Hinds in December 2003 because he feared he would be fired if he told him the actual charges, which included indecent assault on a child.
However, Feliciano said, he told Hinds the true charges about a month later during a religious confession, and the priest did not fire him at that point. Instead, Feliciano said, Hinds told him to move out of a house Feliciano’s family was renting on the grounds of St. Patrick Church.
Feliciano, 66, of Easton, Pa., is on trial for murder in the Oct. 22, 2009 stabbing death of Hinds, the parish priest.
Feliciano’s claim of a drug charge was revealed for the first time today during the defendant’s seventh day on the witness stand and his sixth day of cross-examination by Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi.
Feliciano was in a calmer mood than he was Monday, when the trial had to be adjourned early after Feliciano broke down into several emotional outbursts.
Feliciano’s discussion with Hinds in December 2003 came as St. Patrick Church was complying with a program set by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which required criminal background checks and fingerprinting of all church employees who had contact with children.
Feliciano’s fingerprint card was never returned to State Police. Feliciano has said Hinds extorted him by holding onto the card while making him perform sexual favors. Feliciano said he was provoked into killing Hinds when the priest fired him and contends the killing was a manslaughter, not a murder.
Bianchi is trying to prove the sexual allegations are fiction and the killing was planned.
Feliciano acknowledged that Hinds would not have been required to fire him over drug charges.
Bianchi told Feliciano, “When Father Hinds was given the fingerprint card, he was of the belief (the warrant) was for drug-related charges.”
“I think so, sir,” Feliciano replied.
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