Defense lawyer testy as Philly priest-abuse jury seeks help with testimony, law on 7th day
Source: Associated Press
Defense lawyer testy as Philly priest-abuse jury seeks help with testimony, law on 7th day
By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, June 12, 2:28 PM
PHILADELPHIA An apparently frustrated defense lawyer on the seventh day of jury deliberations in a groundbreaking clergy-abuse case scolded the judge and, outside the Philadelphia courtroom, slammed his cellphone against a wall.
Jurors are deliberating on the fate of Roman Catholic priest James Brennan and the monsignor who supervised him. The jurys frequent requests to re-hear testimony or get help interpreting the law led defense lawyer William Brennan to explode in court Tuesday.
They have to do their jobs, insisted William Brennan, who is no relation to his client James Brennan. They have to rely on their recollections. We cant do their jobs.
As the judge contemplated allowing jurors to hear the priests accusers testimony from a 2008 church trial, William Brennan strenuously objected and got testy. He argued against reading the testimony to the jury, which spent about two hours in court Monday hearing the priests testimony from his canonical trial for a second time. He said jurors also shouldnt be allowed to hear again the accusers two days of trial testimony.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/frustration-grows-on-7th-day-as-philly-priest-abuse-jury-seeks-help-with-testimony-law/2012/06/12/gJQAoqjoXV_story.html