Prosecution Rests Its Child Abuse Case against Philadelphia Priest, Teacher
By Tony Hanson
The prosecution wrapped up its case today in the trial of two men — a priest and a lay teacher — charged with sexually abusing a Philadelphia schoolboy more than a decade ago. Father Charles Engelhardt and former lay teacher Bernard Shero have pleaded not guilty to charges they sexually assaualted the same boy in 1999 and 2000 (see related stories). Today, the prosecution closed its case with the testimony of a pediatrician who testified to various maladies suffered by the alleged victim at about the time of the alleged assaults. The alleged victim testified earlier that he suffered testicular pain, nausea, coughing, and other similar ailments. Dr. Gerard Margiotti testified that records show the young boy had been examined on a couple of occasions at the time and doctors found no underlying cause. The prosecution has suggested that the pain was “referred” pain resulting from the sexual assault the boy could not bring himself to reveal at the time. The defense then opened with character testimony — mostly family members of the two defendants, but also a longtime friend of Engelhardt who testified that the defendants have a reputation for excellent character.
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