BishopAccountability.org

Second alleged victim won’t testify via phone

By Jordan Spence
Alpena News
May 16, 2017

http://www.thealpenanews.com/news/local-news/2017/05/second-alleged-victim-wont-testify-via-phone/

ALPENA — The second alleged victim in the case against Sylvestre Obwaka, who is accused of accused of raping another priest, will not be allowed to testify over the phone.

The second victim’s possible testimony was discussed during a hearing Monday in 53rd Circuit Court.

“For the record my position is that testimony telephonically would not be permitted,” Judge Scott Pavlich said. “He would have to appear and give testimony.”

Pavlich said if the prosecution wants to have this person testify — the victim is male and alleged a sexual assault took place sometime around 2003 — they would have to provide more details.

“Maybe I understand he cannot give precise dates, but, he needs to narrow it down,” Pavlich said. “He needs to testify and provide information, where it occurred; more detail to put the defense on notice. Those details are missing they would have to be given within 30 days of trial.”

Defense attorney Daniel White said they also needed to discuss the prosecution’s expert witness.

“The expert will be testifying that she has expertise that will allow her to testify as to sexual abuse syndrome,” Pavlich said. “That the victims of this type of activity frequently and commonly give more details in their statements each time they recount the events. That’s a common phenomenon of those victims, and also that the victims of these events frequently freeze up and don’t flee the scene; fright or flight syndrome.”

He said the witness will be allowed to testify to those two areas.

“If in fact her expertise is established at a sufficient level to testify that would be the parameters,” Pavlich said.

He said they can expect for trial to take place in mid-July or August.

Contact: jspence@thealpenanews.com




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