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Priest cleared of assault charges Last updated May 31 2005 07:09 AM NDT
CBC News
GANDER – A Roman Catholic priest in central Newfoundland has been found not guilty of sexual assault.
The priest, who was charged last August with one count of sexual assault and three counts of common assault, was acquitted Monday in Gander.
The priest cannot be identified because of a court order.
Provincial court judge Gloria Harding said the fact that the woman waited six months after the alleged first incident to call the police was troublesome.
The judge also found it troublesome that, after three of the alleged incidents, the complainant had willingly posed for pictures with the priest, where the pair were smiling with their arms around each other.
The priest said the ordeal has strengthened his faith.
He will not, however, be working in Newfoundland and Labrador. He had been planning to move before the charges were laid and is still planning to go.
Bishop Martin Curry, who removed the priest from ministry last August, was pleased with the decision.
“Finally now the court has declared him innocent, so I say we’re delighted with that decision,” Curry says.
Source : stjohns.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=nf-priest-court-050531
CBC News
GANDER – A Roman Catholic priest in central Newfoundland has been found not guilty of sexual assault.
The priest, who was charged last August with one count of sexual assault and three counts of common assault, was acquitted Monday in Gander.
The priest cannot be identified because of a court order.
Provincial court judge Gloria Harding said the fact that the woman waited six months after the alleged first incident to call the police was troublesome.
The judge also found it troublesome that, after three of the alleged incidents, the complainant had willingly posed for pictures with the priest, where the pair were smiling with their arms around each other.
The priest said the ordeal has strengthened his faith.
He will not, however, be working in Newfoundland and Labrador. He had been planning to move before the charges were laid and is still planning to go.
Bishop Martin Curry, who removed the priest from ministry last August, was pleased with the decision.
“Finally now the court has declared him innocent, so I say we’re delighted with that decision,” Curry says.
Source : stjohns.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=nf-priest-court-050531