PHILADELPHIA (PA)
NBC Philadelphia
By Karen Araiza
Friday, Mar 23, 2012
One day after defrocked priest Edward Avery pleaded guilty to raping a child, defense attorneys asked for a new jury in the priest sex-abuse trial that is set to start on Monday.
Avery admitted sexually abusing a 10-year-old altar boy in 1999 while Avery was a pastor at St. Jerome’s parish in northeast Philadelphia. Avery was 57 at the time.
Attorneys for the two other church officials who will be tried went to court on Friday to ask the judge for a new jury. They argued that the jury is tainted because of the media coverage of Avery’s guilty plea.
Defense attorneys also announced on Friday that Avery will not cooperate with the prosecution and testify against his two co-defendants, Rev. James Brennan and Monsignor William Lynn.
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