Amid Bombshell, Philly Priest Trial Ends Week, Pottstown Mercury, January 18, 2013

Amid Bombshell, Philly Priest Trial Ends Week

Pottstown Mercury
January 18, 2013

http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130118/NEWS03/130119407/amid-bombshell-philly-priest-trial-ends-week

Former teacher Bernard Shero walks from the Criminal Justice Center, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Philadelphia. Shero is charged with sexual assaulting an altar boy in northeast Philadelphia in the late 1990s. Shero has pleaded not guilty. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Former teacher Bernard Shero walks from the Criminal Justice Center, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Philadelphia. Shero is charged with sexual assaulting an altar boy in northeast Philadelphia in the late 1990s. Shero has pleaded not guilty. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Jurors are breaking for the weekend after a bombshell claim in a priest-abuse trial in Philadelphia.

The long weekend comes after imprisoned former priest Edward Avery denied abusing a policeman’s son in 1999 — despite his plea to the contrary.

The 70-year-old Avery says he took a plea deal for sexual assault and conspiracy rather than risk more prison time if convicted at trial. He’s serving 2 1/2 to five years.

The 24-year-old accuser, after a long struggle with heroin addiction, says he was raped by Avery, the Rev. Charles Engelhardt and ex-teacher Bernard Shero.

Engelhardt and Shero are fighting the charges. Their trial resumes Tuesday.

In testimony Thursday, Avery admitted abuse and “horseplay” with other minors. But he insisted he never touched the policeman’s son from St. Jerome’s Parish in northeast Philadelphia.