PHILADELPHIA (PA)
The Associated Press
By KATHY MATHESON, Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Prosecutors overseeing a child sex-abuse case involving three Roman Catholic priests can reference molestation claims against more than 20 other clergymen to try to establish a pattern of how such allegations were handled, a judge ruled Monday.
The ruling allows an “overwhelming amount of evidence” into the case, defense lawyer William Brennan said in court, even though the judge excluded accusations against several other priests that prosecutors had sought to introduce.
Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina said the evidence is necessary for jurors to understand the totality of the circumstances and to draw accurate inferences in the upcoming trial against Monsignor William Lynn.
“The trial court is not required to sanitize the trial to eliminate all unpleasant facts from the jury’s consideration, where those facts … form part of the history and natural development of the events and offenses for which the defendant is charged,” Sarmina said.
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