Jury begins deliberations in landmark Philadelphia priest sex-abuse trial

Jury begins deliberations in landmark Philadelphia priest sex-abuse
trial
By Joseph A. Slobodzian and John P. Martin INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS Sat,
Jun. 2, 2012

Jurors on Friday began deliberating charges in the landmark conspiracy
and sex-abuse trial involving Archdiocese of Philadelphia priests.

The seven men and five women got the case around noon, after more than
an hour of instructions from Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge M.
Teresa Sarmina. She excused six alternate jurors but cautioned two
that they could be recalled during deliberations.

With the courtroom doors locked, Sarmina explained for the panel the
law and the charges against Msgr. William J. Lynn and the Rev. James
J. Brennan. Jurors will be asked to sift through almost 11 weeks of
evidence, including nearly 2,000 records, many of which documented
decades of abuse by priests....

Prosecutors have argued that Lynn moved accused priests around to
different parishes, enabling them to prey upon other children. Lynn,
who testified in his own defense, denied the allegations and said his
actions were limited by his official role; he said only Cardinal
Anthony J. Bevilacqua had the power to remove or transfer priests.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120602_Judge_charges_jury_in_Philadelphia_priest_sex-abuse_trial.html
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