PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Pottstown Mercury
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jurors are breaking for the weekend after a bombshell claim in a priest-abuse trial in Philadelphia.
The long weekend comes after imprisoned former priest Edward Avery denied abusing a policeman’s son in 1999 — despite his plea to the contrary.
The 70-year-old Avery says he took a plea deal for sexual assault and conspiracy rather than risk more prison time if convicted at trial. He’s serving 2 1/2 to five years.
The 24-year-old accuser, after a long struggle with heroin addiction, says he was raped by Avery, the Rev. Charles Engelhardt and ex-teacher Bernard Shero.
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