Former Area Priest Facing Civil Suit

CANADA
Blackburn News

By Ricardo Veneza on November 16, 2015

A civil suit is being launched against former Windsor and Chatham area priest Linus Bastien and the Roman Catholic Diocese of London.

Bastien was first arrested in October 2011 and charged with indecent assault linked to his time ministering in Maidstone.

Speaking to BlackburnNews.com, lawyer Rob Talach with Beckett Personal Injury Lawyers in London says the civil case will force Father Bastien to the stand.

“I like to think the evidence is more complete in a civil case because one side doesn’t have the cop-out of being able to sit there silent,” says Talach.

The London-based lawyer is representing three complainants he says are tired of waiting on the criminal case against Bastien to move forward. Talach says his clients are worried Bastien may not face justice as the former priest nears 90 years old and felt the need to move forward with the civil case.

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