Prosecution Rests in Philly Priest-abuse Trial

Daily Times
January 22, 2013

http://delcotimes.com/articles/2013/01/22/news/doc50feb92896d09503843678.txt


The prosecution has rested in the trial of a priest and former teacher charged with abusing the same boy in about 1999.

Defense lawyers Tuesday are calling character witnesses for the Rev. Charles Engelhardt and Bernard Shero.

The accuser, a 24-year-old longtime heroin addict, says he was sexually abused as a Catholic schoolboy by Engelhardt, Shero and now-defrocked priest Edward Avery. Avery has pleaded guilty — but says he never touched the boy, and pleaded guilty to avoid a longer sentence.

In testimony Tuesday morning, the accuser's childhood doctor said the boy had complained of genital pain and nausea, but no cause was found.

And a principal testified that Shero was a good teacher, but had to be admonished not to take pictures of students or invite them into his home.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia prosecutors are wrapping up their case in the abuse trial of a priest and former teacher charged with abusing the same boy in about 1999.

The defense could begin to call witnesses Tuesday after testimony from the accuser's childhood doctor.