No Verdict in Philly Church-abuse Trial, but Jurors Ask about Accuser's Absent Brother

The Republic
January 28, 2013

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/d9d7c5c2cdc94378ad75d42f1b5ab6f5/PA--Priest-Abuse-Trial

Jurors in a church-abuse case in Philadelphia have gone home Monday without a verdict, but first asked about a missing trial witness.

The jury wants to know why the accuser's brother did not testify as planned for the defense.

The accuser, a 24-year-old policeman's son, says two Roman Catholic priests and his sixth-grade teacher raped him, starting at age 10. He blames the abuse for his descent heroin addiction.

He testified that he first tried drugs at age 11 when his brother took him to a party.

Defense lawyers say the older brother — now a Philadelphia lawyer — could not be found to testify. They had expected him to challenge the accuser's testimony.

Lawyers for the the Rev. Charles Engelhardt and Bernard Shero have attacked the accuser's credibility.

The jury resumes deliberations Tuesday.