"Sex-abuse" Priest to Getfast-tracktrial

ANSA
December 10, 2015

http://www.ansa.it/english/news/general_news/2015/12/10/sex-abuse-priest-to-getfast-tracktrial_78452482-b6db-40bb-aa68-a7622d3702ee.html


Bari, December 10 - A preliminary hearing judge on Thursday ruled a suspected pedophile priest will get a fast-track trial.

Father Giampiero Peschiulli, 73, was placed under house arrest in May on suspicion of molesting two altar boys while he was the parish priest of Brindisi church.

He is charged with sexually abusing the victims aggravated by "abuse of moral and religious authority".

The alleged offenses date back to 2012, when the boys were not yet 14, and reportedly lasted through 2014.

The prelate was unmasked by a satirical TV show that specialises in stings, Le Iene (Reservoir Dogs).

Peschiulli left his post after the alleged abuse was unveiled in October 2014.

The priest was implicated when one of the presumed victims told a teacher his story.

Carabinieri police said reports existed of other alleged sexual abuse by Peschiulli going back as far as 2002, which can't be prosecuted due to the statute of limitations.

A relative of one of the alleged victims, now an adult, said the prelate repeatedly groped the 10-year-old boy on his thighs and near his genitals.

Legal documents seen by ANSA say that parents reported the priest to the bishop at the time, Monsignor Rocco Talucci, who "expressed astonishment" that the boys "had spoken at home about the abuse received, and had invited the victims of the sexual acts to not report the episode and to not speak about it to others".

In Italy, a fast-track trial means verdicts can't be appealed, and the defendant will get his or her sentence reduced by a third if found guilty.

The next hearing in the case will be in January.