PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Priest Abuse Trial Blog
Ralph Cipriano
The prosecution witness testified that he had just checked out of a recovery facility ten days earlier. On the witness stand, he admitted to a criminal past, and told a story about being sexually abused by a defendant priest, a story drastically different from the original charges in last year’s grand jury report. Then on cross-examination, the witness began crying, and told the judge he was “messing up” his testimony.
Judge M. Teresa Sarmina called for a recess shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday, about 90 minutes earlier than usual. For members of the prosecution team, it was time to regroup as the witness attempted to compose himself in the bathroom.
Day Six of the archdiocese sex abuse trial began shortly after 10 a.m. when Mark Bukowski, 30, from Newtown, Bucks County, took the witness stand to testify against Father James J. Brennan, on trial for charges of attempted rape and conspiracy. Bukowski, according to Brennan’s defense lawyer, is the priest’s sole accuser, so the case against Father Brennan could rise or fall with Bukowski. If so, the prosecution may be in trouble.
Bukowski testified that he was a former altar boy whose family had befriended Father Brennan. “He was over our house every weekend,” Bukowski testified.
“He was almost like an uncle figure, Bukowski said. The witness described Father Brennan as a close friend and drinking buddy of his mother’s. “They really hit it off,” he said. “They would drink alcohol heavily together.” And then the priest would hop on his motorcycle and drive home drunk, the witness testified.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.