Sexual Assault Trial Verdict on Former Windsor Priest Slated for February

By Dave Battagello
Windsor Star
December 20, 2013

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/12/20/sexual-assault-trial-verdict-on-former-windsor-priest-slated-for-february/

Father Gabriele Del Bianco is seen in this handout photo.

A decision will be handed down in Sarnia’s Superior Court in February following the conclusion of a trial this week of a former Windsor priest who was said in court to have sexually abused at least a dozen early-adolescent girls in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Gabriele Del Bianco is facing 18 counts of sexual assault-related offences for his alleged involvement with young girls.

Final submissions by both Crown and defence lawyers were made on Wednesday and concluded Thursday to Justice Joseph Donohue. He indicated his judgement will be handed down on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. in Sarnia’s Superior Court, said assistant Crown attorney Aniko Coughlan, who is handling the case.

The trial began in October with four of Del Bianco’s alleged victims testifying in court.

Del Bianco is being represented during his trial by Windsor criminal defence lawyer Andrew Bradie.

Del Bianco is alleged by the women in statements of claim filed in court to have used church rectories in Windsor, Lakeshore and Wallaceburg to have sex with at least a dozen early-adolescent girls.

The alleged victims say Del Bianco sought out girls facing troubles at home or school, giving them small gifts as a token of his friendship. He was said to have frequently taken kids on visits to Wonderland amusement park, quick trips to local fast food joints and overnight stays at cottages in Grand Bend where some of the alleged abuse occurred.

Del Bianco served in Windsor as associate pastor at St. John Vianney church and part-time chaplain at Brennan high school from 1985 to 1987, according to the diocese.

He was administrator at St. Rose of Lima in 1987 and 1988, then became associate pastor at St. Gregory in St. Clair Beach and part-time chaplain at St. Anne high school from 1988 to 1990.

He was pastor at the former Sacred Heart church in Windsor from 1990 until 1994.

Del Bianco was removed from the parish for evaluation after the diocese says it learned of his behaviour.

He left the priesthood two years later and has since operated his own counselling service in Auburn, Ont.

At least a dozen women have sued the Diocese of London in recent years for sexual abuse by Del Bianco occurring when they were girls with many already reaching settlement.