Judge, Lawyers Confer in Clergy Sex Case

UPI
May 31, 2012

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/05/30/Judge-lawyers-confer-in-clergy-sex-case/UPI-55101338410199/?spt=hs&or=tn

Lawyers in a Philadelphia clergy sex abuse trial met privately with the judge Wednesday to go over instructions that will be given to the jury.

Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina summoned prosecution and defense attorneys to the closed-door meeting the day after testimony in the landmark trial ended, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Closing arguments will be Thursday, and the jury could get the case Friday, the newspaper said.

Prosecutors say Msgr. William J. Lynn endangered children by assigning the Rev. James J. Brennan and former priest Edward Avery to parish positions, despite knowing or suspecting they would abuse children.

Brennan has pleaded not guilty to charges he attempted to rape a 14-year-old boy in 1996. Avery pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a 10-year-old boy, and was sentenced to prison, the newspaper said.