Jury Hears about Accused Teacher’s Attempted Suicide

By Joseph A. Slobodzian
Philly Post
January 17, 2013

http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2013/01/17/jury-hears-accused-priests-attempted-suicide/

Jurors in Bernard Shero’s case today heard testimony about his attempted suicide in 2011, on the same day he’d been expected to turn himself in on charges that he had sexually molested an altar boy a decade earlier.

There was testimony today that defendant Bernard Shero tried to commit suicide in 2011, on the morning he was supposed to surrender to face charges he sexually assaulted the boy, then 11 years old, in 2000. In a note, Shero had apologized to his parents and told them he didn’t think he had “much of a choice here” and he thinks they know why.

But he went on to say he’d be dragged though the mud whether he is innocent or guilty.

Shero, a former teacher Catholic school teacher, is on trial with the Rev. Charles Engelhardt; both are accused of raping the boy. UPDATE: Corrected to accurately reflect Shero’s former role as a teacher. [CBS Philly]