Waylon Johnston
Updated: Charge sheet error frees priest of rape conviction
Two priests appeal imprisonment
A mistake in the charges led one of two priests who were yesterday found guilty of sexual abuse to be acquitted of rape even though the magistrate said the crime did actually take place.
Fr Francesco Scerri, known as Godwin, raped a boy at St Joseph’s Home in Ħamrun and not in Marfa, as indicated in the charges, Magistrate Saviour Demicoli noted.
The error emerged when the victim testified and declared the incident had occurred in Ħamrun and not Marfa. Thus, Fr Scerri had to be acquitted of the rape charge but was found guilty of sexually abusing two boys.
The second priest, Fr Carmelo Pulis, was found guilty of sexually abusing eight boys at the same Ħamrun home and one in Marfa with the magistrate describing the abuse as disgusting.
Fr Pulis was jailed for six years and Fr Scerri was jailed for five years. They will be appealing. A third member of the Order, Br Joseph Bonnett, who had been facing the same charges, passed away last January, aged 63.
The victims, who were then aged between 13 and 16, were resident at the homes in the late 1980s, when the abuse took place.
In a courtroom packed with victims, reporters and about 10 police officers, the magistrate took about two hours reading out the most salient parts of the judgment including disturbing details.
The rape victim, whom the magistrate described as credible, had testified that he had gone to the priest’s room as the priest wanted to speak to him. The priest immediately began touching him and the victim said he told him to stop. Eventually, the priest forced him onto the bed and raped him.
The victim testified that, shortly afterwards, the priest had given him a stereo, which he had brought with him from the United States, and told him to keep his mouth shut about what had happened.
The incident was corroborated by another boy who had seen the victim go into the room with the priest and even though the witness said he had knocked and banged on the door of the room for the priest to open up, both the victim and his aggressor remained silent save for some whispering.
The court referred to another incident involving Fr Pulis in which an independent witness corroborated the account given. One of the victims went to Fr Pulis’s room and while the priest was lying on the bed the boy was told to climb on top of him. Moments later, a care worker, who also testified, walked down the corridor and slightly opened the door, spotting the priest push the boy off him and say: “What a pest you are”.
Priests granted bail pending appeal
The witness testified that he could notice that the priest was sexually excited but the priest acted as nothing was untoward and continued speaking to the care worker, who then immediately reported the case to his superior. The superior told him to draw up a report about the incident, which he did straightaway.
In their evidence, both priests categorically denied ever having touched, sexually abused or maltreated any of the children in their care. The magistrate referred to testimony given by Fr Pulis in which he said that, although he showed compassion to gay men, which he learnt from the Church, he also despised them. In fact, when the gay son of a care worker came to help out at the home in Ħamrun, he warned the children to be careful of the man precisely because he was gay.
The magistrate said that, following a request by defence lawyers Giannella Caruana Curran and Joseph Giglio, he decided not to take the priests’ police statements into consideration because it could amount to a breach of human rights since they had no access to a lawyer before it was taken in 2003.
Following the judgment, the priests were granted bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000 pending their appeal.
Lawyer Patrick Valentino appeared for the victims.
The road to judgment day
September 2003
Lawrence Grech, 31, recounts the sexual abuse he had suffered as a child resident at St Joseph Home in Ħamrun.
October 2003
Police investigations, headed by Assistant Commissioner Michael Cassar, lead to three priests being charged in court with sex abuse of minors in their care. The court bans the publication of the priests’ names. The case is heard behind closed doors. At the same time, the Church’s Response Team initiates its investigation.
April 2010
Ahead of Pope Benedict XVI’s Malta visit, Mr Grech and other alleged victims of sex abuse publicly ask the head of the Catholic Church to apologise for the suffering they endured as children. Subsequently, they hold a private meeting with Archbishop Paul Cremona and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech.
Under the gaze of the world’s media, the victims are also granted a private audience with the Pope in Malta. The Vatican promised it would look into their case following criticism of the Response Team, which had not yet concluded its investigation seven years on.
June 2010
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Archbishop Paul Cremona apologises for the delay in the Church investigation. The Vatican’s Promoter of Justice in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Mgr Charles Scicluna, holds meetings in Malta with some of the alleged victims. He collects their testimony and passes on the details to the Response Team.
August 2010
Questioned by The Times, Mgr Scicluna says it is up to the Maltese Church to conclude its investigations into the sex abuse allegations.
October 2010
The alleged victims receive a letter from regional superior of the Missionary Society of St Paul, Fr Louis Mallia, informing them that their cases were “founded” and the matter is being referred to the Vatican.
January 2011
In court, the priests file a constitutional application claiming their right to a fair trial has been prejudiced because of the media coverage afforded to the case. They ask the Constitutional Court to enforce the ban originally decreed by the Criminal Court and ask for it to be extended also to the constitutional case.
March 2011
Defence lawyers Giannella Caruana Curran and Joseph Giglio request that the priests’ police statements are removed from the court proceedings because, once they had no access to a lawyer when the statements were taken in 2003, it was tantamount to a breach of human rights.
May 2011
A member of the Church tribunal, Fr Brendan Gatt, hearing the case against the priests met the victims to formalise evidence they gave to the Vatican’s chief sex abuse prosecutor the previous summer.
August 2011
Fr Francesco Scerri, also known as Godwin, is jailed for five years and Fr Carmelo Pulis is jailed for six years after being found guilty of the sexual abuse of 11 boys aged between 13 and 16 about 20 years ago.
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Justin Borg Saywell
Aug 4th 2011, 19:15
So much for celibacy and priesthood.
Malcolm Mizzi
Aug 4th 2011, 18:42
Disturbing... to say the least
Ms eileen R
Aug 4th 2011, 11:03
The Canadian authorities have reported that the priest was wanted for sexualt assault on a young man in Canada , way back in 1983 Has the Kuria been protecting an offender???
Isnt that too a criminal offence ??
Mr M Farrugia
Aug 4th 2011, 10:03
meta nara ritratti bhal dawn ta nies jifirhu ghax saret gustizja min dawn iz-zewg sacerdoti qalbi tinghafas. Ma hemm xejn hazin li ssir il-gustizja anzi jekk kellu isir imma li wara isiru hafna xeni wara ghoxrin sena li sar il-kaz zgur mhux il-kaz. Kienu ikun ahjar li kieku nitolbu ghal dawn is-sacerdoti sabiex isibu is-serhan kemm mentali u tal-qalb. Hbieb jekk veru thobbu ir-religjon kattolika tkomplux taghmlu hsara. Kunu insara ta veru u issa li saret gustizja itolbu ghal dawn in-nies. Jiena nitlob ghalikom sabiex intihom ukoll tifthu ghajnejnkom dwar ir-rexti kollha li qed taghmlu.
Christian Cauchi
Aug 4th 2011, 15:58
Mr M farrugia i think that you dont have any children to speak like this i dont care if they are priests if they are ministers if they are polticians whatever they are they made a crime and they must severly pay for their mistakes , they are citizens like all of us here and the law is the same for everyone so please dont start again with this church things let us nat fall in the early 70's again .
L Falzon
Aug 4th 2011, 16:21
Int biss serjeta?? .... nahseb ahjar nitolbu ghalhiek!!
...... what you are claiming is as though the victims are now partying ..... didn't you notice that their jubilation was only a relief?? ...... Relief with tears in their eyes!! .... after waiting and suffering for so many years!!
Christian Cauchi
Aug 5th 2011, 15:12
le ta qatt ma ktibt din l ewwel darba li qed nikteb f dan il blog ghax ma niflahx aktar il faccolizmu sfaccat tal knisja u tal kleru kollu meta kien hawn l issue tad divorzju kienet l ewwel wahda li harget all out kontra id divorzju u pruvat tbezza bil babaw li titlef ruhek jekk tivvota iva le il knisja m gahdiex kredibbli u mhux ver li il knisja u il membri tal kleru jirraprezentaw lil sidna gesu kristu nghida b wicci min quddiem li il knisja kienet ghada u tibqa marmalja li tahbi dak li jaqbel lilha u tikxef dak li jaqbel lila ila min zmien l inkwizzizjoni meta persuna ma taqbilx maha tghajjru sahhar jew toqtlu u hawn malta f lahhar in nies qed jitilfu il fiducja fil knisja . ha naraw issa jekk ituwhomx l istess trattament li jghatu lil haddiehor li tnqghatalu sentenza fuq pedofolija ha naraw issa jekk jitfawhomx il habs ma prigunieri ohra , jien wiehed milli ilni naqla fuq wicci minghand il knisja ghax inhobb mara separata u qieghed nghix maha ghal dawn l ahhar hames snin daqsekk ila ittini bis sieq il knisja mela nghalqu halqna issa u nghixu f dinja rejali mhux f dinja li il knisja tbezzana bid dnub il mejjet u bit telf tar ruh . u jekk qieghed nigdeb jew nivvinta jew naqla malafama fuq xi hadd tibza ifthuli libell grazzi
Noel Dimech
Aug 6th 2011, 12:15
Imisshom ma jifirhux telghin u nizlien il qorti , u lpoplu Malti ma jemminhomx imsieken sakem harget il verita.Taf meta tinghafas qalbi Sur Farrugia jien , meta dawn listess patrijiet jghamlu li ghamlu lilek jew lit tfal tieghek jekk veru tixtieq gid lill knisja titlob l Alla li nies bhal dawn ma jibqawx jinqdew bih biex jilhqu lghanijiet hziena taghhom, haga ohra li kieku dan il qasis ma nqabadx min jaf kemm abbuza min tfal izjed u nassigurak li hemm bosta ohrajn li ma tkellmux. Tahsibhomx xi qadisin lill dawn il qassisin tghix tahthom trid tkun ha tkun taf jidhirx bdak il wicc ta miskien is sur Pulis. U bilhaqq is sur godwin scerri kien ga kellhom hjiel limiss xi tfal il canada, kif mela thalla wahdu mat tfal mis socjeta missjunarja ta San Pawl, listess socjeta li ddefendithom il qorti blaqwa avukati .Kemm nies hemm ilhabs li wehlu fuq cucati. ghax mghandux ikun hemm post ghall dawn il hniezer.
sintja busuttil
Aug 4th 2011, 08:10
"a request by defence lawyers" that would have freed their clients if it were not for the magistrate's vigilance.
Mr M Farrugia
Aug 4th 2011, 19:17
tghidu x'tghid jiena xorta wahda nibqa insostni li ma ghandhomx ghalfejn isiru dawn ix-xeni fil-gazetti. Jiena ghid li saret gustuzja huwa sewwa li ma naqbilx li jsiru dwn ix-xeni. Intkom li taqblu ma dawn ix-xeni mhux vera insara prattikanti. In-nisrani li johrog sodisfatt li saret gustizja ma ghandux ghalfejn joqghod jixxadina. Min jaqbel ma dawmn l-affarijiet fl-opinjoni tieghi ghandu agenda mohbija u xejn aktar. Iva insostni li ghandha nitolbu ghal dawn it-tnejn min nies. Min qal li ahjar titolbu ghalija nghidilkom grazzi ghax jiena nidneb bhal hadd iehor. Min ma ghandux ebda dnub jitfa l-ewwel gebla hbieb.
Mr M Farrugia
Aug 4th 2011, 19:21
@Christian Cauchi. Habib jiena ghandi tfal u naf x'wiehed ihoss meta ikollu problemi bhal dawn. Jiena f'ebda hin ma iddefendejt l-ghemil ta dawn is-sacerdoti imma ikkritikajt ix-xeni zejda. Nixtieq nistaqsik jekk inti personalment ktibtx fuq dan il-blog meta gew rappurtati kazi fejn il-missier abbuza min bintu, il-missier abbuza min ibnu, iz-ziju abbuza min neputi. Jekk iva jghid meta ktibt halli infittex jekk le ghidli ghax illum qed tikteb u dak in-nhar le Habib.
ray alamango
Aug 3rd 2011, 22:25
Now that the hearing is over and the sentence was given, the two so called priest are making an appeal against the verdict, it’s better for them to make an apology to those who suffered from there abuse, who trusted them blind folded. To get locked up for five years is nothing compared to the damage done to all those individuals who were abused during there hardest time of there lives, if I was you I will appeal the magistrate to lock me in and throw away the key in the ocean. It’s a shame on you and all those who tried to cover up your story. Another apology must go to the church for the bad reputation and humiliation other clergy are facing because you.
Joseph Grech Attard
Aug 3rd 2011, 19:28
"...although he showed compassion to gay men, which he learnt from the Church, he also despised them..." What does this have to do with paedophilia? Sexuality can be homo, hetero, etc and also paedophilia can be hom, hetero, etc. Let us not confuse the issue. The priests are accused with PAEDOPHILIA and not with being homo or hetero! Let us remove our bias against gay people by pointing at them our fingers when paedophilia is mentioned. There are, probably, more cases of 'hetero' paedphilia than 'homo' paedophilia but, for obvious, discreet reasons, many such cases are not brought to the knowledge of the public, especially since parents of young girls prefer so. Homphobes, too, can be paedophiles!! And, by the way, despising any person is very unChristian. Didn't the Catholic Church teach the priest so?
Mr Paul Micallef
Aug 3rd 2011, 17:41
KOLLOX ISSIR BKUMBINAZJONI, ahleb peppi you have a programe in the making.
Mr Alfred Hili
Aug 3rd 2011, 16:29
In every society, there are the good ones and also the bad ones. We shouldn't be surprised that a few members of the clergy are not perfect. However, I believe that these should be punished like the rest of us when they err. By protecting them we would be partners in crime.
Mr Joseph Calleja
Aug 3rd 2011, 16:13
"Fr Francesco Scerri, known as Godwin, raped a boy at St Joseph’s Home in Ħamrun and not in Marfa, as indicated in the charge" A rape is a rape is a rape. So what if the abused boy files new charges against this pedophile priest and this time get the charges right? Would that satisfy the courts? Also why aren't these two priests in prison since they were both convicted of abusing these kids. They like any other, can await for their appeal in jail. As far as I know, priests put on their pants one leg at a time, or do they? And justice for all. Yeah right.
Ms D Galea
Aug 3rd 2011, 14:06
Dear Mr Scerri and Mr Pulis,
how about giving up playing further legal hide-and-seek games.?.
His Holiness has not defrocked you for frivolous reasons neither.
Humbly ask society and your victims to forgive you for your weaknesses and prepare youselves to face the consequences of your actions with some semblance of dignity and resignation, and spare the church and its leaders further embaressment.
James Camilleri
Aug 3rd 2011, 13:31
"Defence lawyers Giannella Caruana Curran and Joseph Giglio request that the priests’ police statements are removed from the court proceedings because, once they had no access to a lawyer when the statements were taken in 2003, it was tantamount to a breach of human rights." So I suppose anyone who had committed a crime prior to this issue should apply to have his sentence revoked because they had no lawyer present during the taking of statements. Why should this new law apply to old cases? It should apply since it was initiated and not back dated in such a way.
Victor Boyde
Aug 3rd 2011, 17:41
There was no mention as to the human rights for the victims. There was no mention about how many other children were raped and abused throughout the time these were in-charge. There was never any statement issued by the church to show their revultion for what these men did. And their is no mention as to the human damage these two criminals have EACH contributed when they destroyed the children mentally and physically. And they are claiming their HUMAN RIGHTS?
Carlo Laurenti
Aug 3rd 2011, 12:42
......As we were often told during numerous Sunday sermons "He who escapes justice on this earth will not escape at the hand of God!"
& all men are alike and subject to the same judgement in the eyes of God - Amen!
Carlo Laurenti UK
S. Camilleri
Aug 3rd 2011, 12:30
Luke 6:31
"Do to others as you would have them do to you"
I suggest these sick priests be treated as they treated innocent children.. Also, a great Person once said that it is better to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around *their* neck. [Mat 18:16 and Mark 9:42] than to give scandal to innocent children.. I'd gladly help them tie the stone!
Ms D. Borg
Aug 3rd 2011, 11:35
What difference does it make where it was done? The fact is that it was proved that it happened. Does the locality make it a lesser crime? Ridiculous
Jason Falzon
Aug 3rd 2011, 13:00
It doesn't make a difference on whether it occured or not, but the error amounts to what I think is a technical error that in law courts amounts to the case being invalidated.
It's a bit like when someone is caught driving wrong way and receives a citation to appear in court on the incident, but on the citation his first name is written wrongly or a totally different first name is given. Doesn't matter is the surname, car regisration and all other details are correct, as well as he/she really drove wrong way. The case still falls.
Unfortunate and unnerving but sadly true.
Joe Fenech
Aug 4th 2011, 00:14
If the case is invalidate that will be another "only in Malta". Proper courts would never stoop that low!
Joe Fenech
Aug 3rd 2011, 11:24
"Charge sheet error frees priest of rape conviction"
What is this madness all about? Put them behind bars for life and give them 30 whip lashes a day!
Mr D Muscat
Aug 3rd 2011, 11:07
Six years for a rape would be about right. But six years for the continued rape and abuse of several minors over a number of years is way too low. Unless the courts hands were tied by law, this sentence is too lenient. They will be out in four years... if they are eventually jailed.
In America for kidnap and continued rape for 20 years of a minor a man was jailed for 431 years recently . Ours will be out and about in four years with a risk to all minors coming into contact with them. The court should have banned them from having any contact with minors in any capacity.
The charges for the priest who escaped on a technicality should be brought again by treating the case as a new one with the correct change in place name to avoid bringing the same charged twice. I'm sure some competent prosecutor can be found to word it in such a way to do this.
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 3rd 2011, 10:43
What a convenient stroke of luck that was in misinterpreting Marfa for Hamrun. saved the guy an extra couple of years behind bars.
Steve Mifsud
Aug 3rd 2011, 11:02
I smell a rat....unfortunately
L. Vella
Aug 3rd 2011, 10:43
This is why I have completely lost faith in the Church, because of people like Fr. Scerri. After a number of allegations from different victims he still denies it. Why would the victims lie? It's not like they are demanding a sum of money, only justice.
And he despises gay people!!! A typical rebuke from a kloseted gay person who wants to deflect any suspicion from himself. And to top it all off, he warned the other children against the other gay child! Is there no end to his shame! This is mostly society's fault, because if there wasn't such a taboo to homosexuality, gay men wouldn't have needed to hide within the diocese only to relieve their sexual urges on innocent children!
Judy Jones
Aug 3rd 2011, 18:40
These very brave and determined victims are amazing.. and they have gotten a tiny bit of justice. This is a start for all victims of clergy sex abuse in Malta...
Keep speaking up, your truth will finally be heard, and victims will be listened to, and only when the full truth within the church system of lies and cover up are exposed, then kids will be safe.
Judy Jones, SNAP USE
Mr Graham Holme
Aug 3rd 2011, 10:04
Just recently a judge in the UK allowed a school teacher,pedophile case proven,to walk free
Google the Labour 25.Twenty five Labour councilors in office in Britain,convicted pedophiles,these are the ones known,how many are we not aware of?
Steve Mifsud
Aug 3rd 2011, 10:04
I wouldn't even insult animals as they never abuse their young sexually. I sincerely hope these monsters are put behind bars and have real justice given to them by their fellow inmates.
Mr Henry Mifsud
Aug 3rd 2011, 10:02
The real punishment of these two men is still to come. Humiliation shall only last until they close their eyes to go and meet the Lord who will most definitely deal with them as appropriate.
As a parent myself I cannot help in thinking of the suffering they inflicted on others who had to go through hell for most of their formative years. Not just the victims but also all those who eventually got in contact with them. The damage they sustained is irreversible.
The fact that they appealed rather than thank God for the technical error in their favour, makes me more wrathful. So without mincing words, my only message to these ex-priests, and any others out there who performed similar acts on the INNOCENT is:
"MAY YOU ALL ROT IN HELL!"
Mr Kevin Cassar
Aug 3rd 2011, 11:19
I agree that the real punishment of these two men is still to come, but if it ever will, it will be in this world and life. If an afterlife exists, and is as claimed by the Catholic church, then these men will not suffer any consequence after they die. According to Christianity, we are all born deserving eternal torture in Hell, and only believing that Jesus is God, can spare us this "justice". If Christianity were true, these child abusers would go to heaven, because Jesus died for their sins and paid their penalty. This would be anything but justice regardless of whether if it is real or immaginary.
Mr Graham Holme
Aug 3rd 2011, 12:20
As stated,forgiveness is in the hands of God
Sure lots of us would only be too happy to arrange"The Meeting"
S. Camilleri
Aug 3rd 2011, 12:32
@Kevin Cassar.. BTW.. believing in Jesus Christ is not a guaranteed ticket to heaven ... and the opposite is also true; so do not worry there!
Patrick Mulholland
Aug 3rd 2011, 13:36
@ Kevin Cassar
What you're saying is not correct. Do not comment on subjects you apparently do not have a clue about , just for the sake of bashing Christianity.
Mr Kevin Cassar
Aug 3rd 2011, 14:40
@ Patrick Mullholland
My comment is correct according to the Bible and the Christian religion. Do not reply on subjects you apparently do not have a clue about , just for the sake of bashing a rational comment.
Christina Ferriggi
Aug 3rd 2011, 10:01
I think that having children entrusted in the care of such persons and letting such children think that they are in a safe place where they are well protected and cared for and then having these priests abuse of their power in such a way, is simply disgusting. In my opinion a life sentence should have been given rather than a few years! These children (now adults) have been scarred for life with such unjustified acts! The law always seems to give more protection to the offenders rather than the sufferers!
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Aug 3rd 2011, 09:53
Interesting to see whether this fellow can be charged with rape again or whether double jeopardy applies!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Aug 3rd 2011, 09:47
Quantity discount?
Mr Peter Murray
Aug 3rd 2011, 09:43
How many times are criminals let off the hook through incompetent legal work by the police-as this is sadly a common recurring theme.What happens to the legal personnel who commit such basic and inept drawing up of charge sheets?
Mr W Cassar
Aug 3rd 2011, 09:41
A sad day for justice!
James Aquilina
Aug 3rd 2011, 09:38
A member of clergy can get away with murder....
how can we trust the Curia??????
Peppi grech
Aug 3rd 2011, 09:35
u ejja, wasalna f'dan l-istat li infettqu fuq fejn gara? Kemm ahne serji u retti fejn irridu ahna!!!
Mela jekk jitwettaq delitt f'post jismu A u ic-chargesheet tinket B bi zball m'hemmx mezz fil-qorti biex dik ic-chargesheet tigi ikkoreguta specjalment jekk l-akkuzat jammetti?
Ara vera tat-telenovelas man!!!
Raymond Sacco
Aug 3rd 2011, 09:32
quote: "he warned the children to be careful of the man precisely because he was gay"
and he had the cheek to compare a gay person to a paedophile! as if he did not know the difference!
Joe Fenech
Aug 3rd 2011, 08:59
Only 5 and 6 years for raping, abusing trust and ruining peoples' lives?
THIS IS A JOKE!
Joseph Grech Attard
Aug 3rd 2011, 10:49
Do not worry. They shall probably be acquitted or their sentence reduced after they appeal!! Quo Vadis Catholicism?
Roderick Borg
Aug 3rd 2011, 11:16
Jekk Toqtol Ghasfur Tehel Izjed!
David Caruana
Aug 3rd 2011, 08:42
"...he (Fr Pulis) warned the children to be careful of the man precisely because he was gay."
Ara veru l-ispizjar milli jkollhu jatik!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Aug 3rd 2011, 09:55
Attent David. Being Gay is just a natural sexual orientation. Being a pedophile is something totally different. The majority of pedophiles are heterosexuals deprived of sex or regular heterosexuals with a sick extra sex urge to bugger young children,boys and girls.
Kenneth Grima
Aug 3rd 2011, 10:09
being gay doesn't mean paedophile he is the monster not that gay man.
Charles Podesta
Aug 3rd 2011, 10:49
What a shame, a priest from an institute who should be preaching acceptance warning children AGAINST gay people? ... When he was accused of raping children - boys ie: he is gay himself. It is much worse being a pedofile than being gay!
Covering up these stories for centuries is no excuse for the church, but ultimately the priests are human and are fault to do good or evil. Having said that given that they are going to suffer the consequences for their actions (even though I personally feel for too short a sentence) at the very least shows us that the church is complying to reform which should also brought to light rather than convicting the whole church.
Patrick Mulholland
Aug 3rd 2011, 13:38
@ Charles J. Buttigieg
"Being Gay is just a natural sexual orientation" - can you or anyone give us proof of this?
Klaus Pedersen
Aug 3rd 2011, 08:05
The law really is an ass - but why not change it? why are people who are clearly guilty allowed to walk free because of technicalities? how hard can it be to change the laws to ensure that this does not happen?
The text: "A mistake in the charges led one of two priests who were yesterday found guilty of sexual abuse to be acquitted of rape even though the magistrate said the crime did actually take place.
Fr Francesco Scerri, known as Godwin, raped a boy at St Joseph’s Home in Ħamrun and not in Marfa, as indicated in the charges, Magistrate Saviour Demicoli noted.".
.......screams to the heavens of injustice and Kafkaesque absurdity.
Mr Darby Allen
Aug 3rd 2011, 10:11
This is incredibly stupid, isn't it? The rape took place, regardless of where it happened, and this scum is going to get away with it.
Why cannot the charge sheet be amended, and the charge reinstated?
C Muscat
Aug 3rd 2011, 11:17
I do not know about this case, but such error might mean there was nothing in the real terms; when such an error occur it is probably false; that is why the law in such cases says 'not guilty'.
Jeremy Lanfranco
Aug 3rd 2011, 07:39
Some readers may find this news interesting:
http://www.jellineklaw.com/current-cases.html
L GRECH
Aug 3rd 2011, 07:36
Don't jump your guns. I'll say that justice has been done when I see these two monsters behind bars; they are still running free.
And something tells me that they will not spend one day in jail...hope I'm wrong
James Aquilina
Aug 3rd 2011, 09:40
Let's face it, a week in jail and they will be taken out in stretchers, an I applaud that!!!!!!!
Looks like it's up to the inmates to do justice this time, and I kinda trust them on this......