UNITED KINGDOM
Daventry Express
A retired priest from Solihull has been cleared of indecently assaulting a young girl after what his barrister described as a “grotesque” inquiry into the allegation.
Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court took around two hours to acquit Father Edward Simpson of indecently touching the girl during the mid-1980s.
The 85-year-old clergyman, of Olton Friary, Solihull, told his trial he could not understand why the historic allegation was made against him last year.
His alleged victim, now in her 40s, told the court she had been groped while in the same room as her parents. But two further witnesses, who had not been interviewed by police before the proceedings were brought, claimed the alleged assault could not have happened.
After Fr Simpson was acquitted, Judge Sybil Thomas thanked jurors for their careful consideration of the case and expressed concern at the police decision not to interview a number of potential witnesses.
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