William Lynch Tells Jury He Attacked Retired Priest for Abuse That Destroyed His Life

By Brian Shields
KRON 4
June 29, 2012

http://www.kron4.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=4455

A man accused of beating a priest he says molested him and his brother began emotional testimony Friday morning at his trial on assault charges.

William Lynch, 44, told the jury that the Rev. Jerold Linder, now 67, raped him and his brother on a 1974 camping trip.

Lynch said the abuse has destroyed his life.

He is charged with assault and elder abuse for allegedly beating Lindner on May 10, 2010, at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos.

He admitted today to hitting the priest multiple times during a confrontation.

"I was angry, I was reverting back to things from my childhood," Lynch said.

"I wanted him to admit what he'd done to me," he said.

Lindner testified last week that Lynch had attacked him at the retirement home, but denied sexually abusing him or his brother.

However, he later invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to testify further, making it impossible for the defense to cross-examine him.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge David Cena instructed jurors on Tuesday to disregard Lindner's testimony.