Legal Expert Says Bevilacqua’s Death Won’t Affect Philadelphia Priest Child-Abuse Case

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
CBS Philly

By John Ostapkovich

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Will Cardinal Bevilaqua’s death (see related story) affect the ongoing priest-abuse case? Not much, says one legal expert who is very familiar with the case.

There is now a gag order imposed on all parties in the case (related story), so neither the prosecution nor defense can make statements in reaction to Bevilacqua’s death.

Bevilaqua underwent a deposition in November, and a judge this week overruled defense claims that he was not a competent witness (another related story).

Charles Peruto Jr., the former counsel for one of the accused priests and a longtime defense attorney, says Bevilaqua’s death changes nothing.

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