Former priests' appeal: Judgement on October 26
Godwin Scerri. Right: Charles Pulis.
The judgement on the appeals of two former priests convicted of child abuse will be delivered on October 26.
The final submissions by both the prosecution and the defence were heard in court this morning as the accused stood in the dock and two of the victims fidgeted as they heard the proceedings.
During today’s hearing, the sitting was stopped for 20 minutes while the judge, the prosecution and the defence watched a video in which victim Laurence Grech stripped a 12-year-old boy naked.
The two former priests Godwin Scerri and Charles Pulis, both members of the Missionary Society of St Paul, were sentenced to five and six years in prison respectively for sexually abusing boys in their care.
A third member of the same Order, Bro. Joseph Bonnett, who had been facing the same charges, passed away two years ago.
Prosecutor Elaine Rizzo, from the Attorney General’s office, said the defence had tried to attack victim Laurence Grech by saying that he had agreed with the other victims to come up with the abuse story.
But it was only after Mr Grech spoke on Bondi+ had the other victims come forward. This showed that there had been was no such arrangement. This also gave Mr Grech absolute credibility.
She referred to an instance when a social worker saw one of the priests with an erection while playing around with one of the boys.
Dr Grech said that although she was not a man, she had seen men playing around with children and none had had an erection. Such behaviour, she said, could not be justified and was completely unacceptable.
“In its judgement, the judiciary cannot give the impression that it lives in a vacuum… It is true that the courts should not bend to popular opinion but society is hurt and justice also has to be done with society, the victims and the institutes, which have also been hurt,” she said.
Presenting the defence arguments, Giannella de Marco referred to statements by Philip Galea Farrugia from the AG’s office in an earlier sitting, that the defence counsel had launched a personal and ferocious attack on the only victim to come forward and should be found in contempt of court
Dr de Marco said he was hurt when she saw the AG treating her clients and their defence arguments as just some obstacle.
If anything, it was the AG’s office that should be found in contempt for words they had used to describe the defence counsel and which had never before been seen in an appeal document.
These were hamallagni, she said.
“They attacked us personally and this is completely unacceptable.”
Dr de Marco said the first court could not have legitimately and reasonably reached a guilty verdict.
She called victim Oliver Goodram a liar and said that his problem was not that he gave evidence 18 years after the alleged incident took place and could not remember what happened but that he was a liar and his allegations were a fantasy.
At this point, the sitting was halted for the judge, the prosecution and the defence to watch the video in which Mr Grech stripped a 12-year-old boy, who was also one of the victims, naked.
Dr de Marco said that the AG had likened the behaviour in the video to a bachelor’s party.
“I’ve never been to a bachelor’s party and I do not know what the AG’s tastes are but what fun is there in a 28-year-old man stripping naked a 12-year-old boy in the presence of his wife and daughter and other men who are banging chairs and shouting,” she asked.
She said she also found completely unacceptable the AG’s attitude to the defence counsel during the appeal.
The victim stripped naked in the video, who was born in 1987, she said, had given various versions of what had happened, none of which were credible.
He had lived at the institute for 10 years and no allegations had ever surfaced while he lived there despite there being psychologists, teachers, social workers, helpers and other priests.
The allegations only surfaced when Mr Grech came into the picture.
Dr de Marco said it was very suspicious how before every court sitting, the victims met at Mr Grech’s house. This was very convenient and suspicious.
Mr Grech, she said, had a system of conduct which showed that he lied.
He lied to Lou Bondi five times, he lied to the court and was charged with filing a false police report involving insurance fraud.
She referred to what had been described by the prosecution as the Stockholm Syndrome when the victims invited the priests to their weddings and their children’s baptisms and said Stockholm Syndrome involved a girl who had been beaten, sexually abused and locked up as a prisoner and had nothing in common with what these men claimed to have suffered.
“Give me a break… Stockholm Syndrome, my foot,” she said adding that the common link in this case was Mr Grech.
Defence lawyer Joe Giglio reminded the court that none of the victims had testified that they were suffering any psychological trauma, especially from Stockholm Syndrome.
This, he said, did not result from any of the proceedings.
He referred to claims by Mr Grech that he did not kiss, hug and hold his daughter because he was afraid he would be abusing her. But his actions in the DVD were completely contradictory, he said.
The case was then deferred for judgement.
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I Bugeja
Jul 7th 2012, 15:03
To all those that are mentioning the Vatican as an example to be followed.
Our courts should be respected better than that. People should not doubt the capabilities of our courts and should believe that all necessary evidence and possible discussions were tackled. Since we were not involved directly in the case, then we cannot invent or judge either of the parties but above all the justice system.
Without this system we would be back in times of the crusades or the witch hunts. We cannot afford to pelt our justice system since it is at core of our democracy.
Joe borg
Jul 7th 2012, 14:53
Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Tardare si, scappare no.
Even if you manage to fool earthly judges, there is one judge not to be fooled
G Buhagiar
Jul 7th 2012, 14:38
F'Awwissu tas-sena l-ohra, inghatat is-sentenza dwar dan il-kaz ta' dawn l-eks sacerdoti. Il-Knisja f'Malta, ghandha influwenza qawwija fuq is-socjeta` Maltija, b'mod specjali fiz-zmijnijet ta' qabel. Issa l-affarijiet bdew jinbidlu u dan gara meta dahal id-divorzju f'pajjizna...
Il-kaz tal-abbuzi marbuta mad-Dar ta' S.Guzepp, jibqa' fost dawk il-kazijiet li qanqal hafna reazzjonijet differenti. Jien inzertajt naf wiehed minn dawn l-eks sacerdoti ftit qabel bdew l-investigazzjonijet. Mill-banda l-ohra ma kontx naf min kienu l-vittmi. Hadd ma kien jaf xejn dwar kif kien qed isir il-process ghaliex kollox sar fil-maghluq. Meta nghatat is-sentenza sena ilu, kien hawn hafna reazzjonijiet. Anke f'din il-pagna, hafna ipingu lis-sacerdoti bhala l-vittmi u ohrajn jakkuzaw lill-vittmi li dak li ghamlu kien minhabba l-flus.
Meta sacerdot, jigi akkuzat li wettaq xi abbuzi sfortunatament ikun hawn min jew jipprova jghatti jew inkella idawwar l-affarijiet. Dan huwa hazin. Xahar qabel inghatat is-sentenza, il-Papa Benedettu XV nehha minn sacerdot lil Charles Pulis, ghal min ma jafx jew ma tax kaz, dan tal-ahhar kien stqarr li kellu problemi dwar abbuzi fuq it-tfal. L-eks sacerdot Godwin Scerri, tnehha minn sacerdot mill-Papa Benedettu XV f'Ottubru ta' sena ilu. Il-Vatikan ra li kien hemm 'provi bizzejjed' u x-xhieda tal-abbuzati kienet 'kredibbli' . Biex il-Papa inehhi lil xi hadd minn sacerdot, irid ikun hemm hafna provi, ghax ma ninsewx f'dak li jghallem il-Papa huwa infallibbli.
Ma ninsewx li dan l-eks sacerdot, Godwin Scerri ma jistax imur il-Kanada ghax imfittex mill-pulizija u mill-Gustizzja Kanadiza. Semmejt dawn ghax hafna milli jiktbu f'din il-pagna donnhom ma jafux b'dawn il-fatti jew jaghmlu ta' bir ruhhom li ma semghawhomx. Il-Papa cert minn dawn l-abbuzi, kieku ma kienx ikollu ghalfejn inehhihom minn sacerdoti...
Li waqt l-ahhar seduta jintwera filmat ta' Lawrence Grech inezza tifel waqt party huwa hazin, pero` milli jidher L-avukata De Marco ma tantx taf, illi min jigi abbuzat jista' jkun jigri li l-vittmi jaqghu fl-istess vizzju. Din jaqblu maghha l-Psikologi kollha u hija pruvata. Min xehed fil-Qorti , ghax ra lil Charles Pulis kwazi gharwien b'tifel fuqu, ta xhieda ta' dak li ra, u mhux ta xi hadd li mar jghidlu hekk. Sar zball u wiehed ghandu jerfa' r-responsabbilta` ta li jkun ghamel. Billi xi whud joqghodu jaghmluha ta mhallfin, ghax ma sarx hekk u ghax hekk,.. hemm il-provi u juru car li gara hekk.Dawn ghandna nghiduhom biex abbuzi bhal dawn ma jsirux. Nemmen li hawn hafna sacerdoti li jaghmlu l-gid, sfortunatament hawn ohrajn li jaghmlu d-deni. Anke Gesu` kellu wiehed minn shabu li tradih, imma kellu ohrajn li ghamlu hafna opri tajba.
C Falzon
Jul 7th 2012, 12:53
Dr Demarco doesn't seem very well informed. The Stockholm Syndrome does not refer to a specific case of a kidnapped person as she mentions. It is a rather well known term used to describe a situation in which hostages/captives after being in captivity for a long time start to form a bond with their captors.
The name originated from ones such case in Stockholm where in the course of a bank robbery gone wrong a number of people were held hostage inside the bank vault.
M. Mifsud
Jul 7th 2012, 10:43
@Louise Vella, Joe Fenech, Malcolm Seychell and Joseph Carmel Chetcuti.
Taf x'jonqoskom taghmlu? Tghidu lill-Imhallef li qed jismgha l-appell sabiex iwarrab u taqbdu u tiktbu s-sentenza inthom. Bl-attitudni taghkom, li hi ghal-kollox skorretta peress li l-kaz ghdu 'sub-judice' inthom qeghdin tippretendu li tisfurzaw il-Qorti biex tiddeciedi dan l-appell skont ix-xewqa taghkom. Alla hares qatt ikollkom cans li jkollkom il-poter f' Malta. Sinjur Alla jilliberana.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 7th 2012, 10:41
I found this report rather confusing and had to go through it a few times. What caught my eye was the mention of the Stockholm Syndrome about which I have written before with regard to this very case. The example of the Syndrome referred to here - a young girl being kept against her will and sexually abused. The report makes it sound like the Stockholm Syndrome referred solely to this young girl's case and was therefore a unique situation with a fancy name. It wasn't. The Syndrome describes ANY situation where the victim ends up colluding with his/her oppressor. It is quite common in hostage-taking - a tactic to survive? maybe - or the very common put-upon woman who colludes with her abusive husband and this often to save face and the very real fear of having to deal with the aftermath were she to reveal the shameful (in her mind) familial situation.
In this light I do not find it at all surprising that the victims of sex abuse invited their abusers to their wedding/christening. It is a psychological ploy to help one come to terms with one's trauma.
The victim/s tried it and it may have helped for a while but, with the exposure of child abuse elsewhere, their trauma has resurfaced.
The trauma, such as it is, is often resolved when the situations that triggered it off is sorted out. At other times, drastic action is required to bring closure to the victims anguished state. I am not sure that S.S. would be classified as a psychological condition requiring treatment. I see it more as a natural survival tactic.
http://web2.iadfw.net/ktrig246/out_of_cave/sss.html
Plus there is a wealth of information available by searching Stockholm Syndrome.
The fact that invitation to weddings happened a number of years later only goes to show that the trauma persisted after the 'event'.
@Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti (6th July 2012 23:58). I couldn't agree more. But.....aren' t you assuming that abusers of children are the types who go to confession and receive Communion? I don't think so. Or maybe some would as wonders never cease. I imagine abusive priests WOULD confess to a fellow priest and that is when it becomes 'closed shop', definitely. As for the re-introduction of the death penalty, no! Only god has the right to kill by first sending the felon 'round the bend'. This is called hell on earth and no other exists.
Conversely, heaven on earth is a life lived decently, without fancy and fanciful additions that only hinder, and deprive one's existence. Get it?! I'm now off to this year's pathetic version of London's World Gay Pride (in-fighting, non-payment of bills, spokes in the wheels by the Mayor). And then we have the cheek to talk about integration between straights and gays, the Maltese and illegal immigrants, and with gays. I don't think so. Man is too insecure to do anything as silly as integrate with those who are different. And it is not Gonzi's fault. He too is human and he too is insecure. Just food for thought on this, 'what-a-gay-day-Saturday!'
david debattista
Jul 7th 2012, 09:28
Lets see what comes out of this . Then we will have an idea as to where we stand with regards to Transparency, Competence, and the individuals rights within the courts in Malta !
Louise Vella
Jul 7th 2012, 08:34
Justice needs to be served by the civil court no matter the position held by the perpetrators. No one – and certainly not the civil court - should ignore the fact that these priests have been defrocked by the Vatican for the sexual abuse of these same victims. Obviously the Holy See tribunal found the victims’ evidence to be credible.
Coming forward takes so much strength and courage. These victims are heroes to so many, including the many other victims who live in silence forever. It takes pure strength just to survive these atrocities and try to live a normal life. The abuse had a deep effect on their lives and their ability to cope with life generally. Our law courts must not deal the victims another blow. They have already had more than their fair share of suffering and pain when, through no fault of theirs, they lived in St Joseph Home as children and did not enjoy a normal childhood like most of us. There they were sexually abused by those who should have known better. The victims have sought the courts for justice. Let us hope that after all these years they will finally truly find justice as well as the peace they so rightly deserve.
Louise Vella
Jul 7th 2012, 06:49
These brave victims deserve praise and appreciation for coming forward and protecting other children from being abused by these priests who have been defrocked by the Vatican because of sexual abuse of children.
Joe Fenech
Jul 7th 2012, 09:27
You're right. Does one think that the Vatican is a banana repbulic like Malta? It would have done it's research very well. Does who are defending these ex-priests should think well.
Joe Naudi
Jul 7th 2012, 14:27
Hi Mr Louis Vella,
I fully agree with you, these brave victims deserve praise. The priests who abused these children should get life imprisonment. Joe. N
Joe Fenech
Jul 7th 2012, 00:52
Then are these priests also saying that the boys-in-drag photos were montages or that the kids lied?
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Jul 6th 2012, 20:27
Ergaw dahlu il piena kapitali.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jul 6th 2012, 23:58
Malcolm, do not anticipate the court's decision. Such cases are very, very complex. Even if found guilty, these two men are victims of a system that has turned a blind eye to such offences. That system is the Roman Catholic Church aided and abetted by some governments. It is the real culprit as members of the episcopate worldwide have done their best to make sure that such offences do not come to light. Laws must be introduced to require provincials, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and popes to disclose offences against children to the civil authorities and to do so forthwith. Persons in authority must be precluded from hearing confessions and then use the confidenitality of the 'sacrament' as an excuse not to report what they know to the police. Any settlement that includes a confidentiality clause must be made unlawful and attract a serious penalty. I ask: what has the Gonzi PN government done in the interest of abused children? What laws has it introduced to make sure that offences against children do not go unreported to the police? I have to say that waiting for four months for the decision appears somewhat rich (and unfair to the accused) especially to someone like me who works in a jurisdiction where such decisions are made in a week or so. This is also an area that needs reform.
Joe Fenech
Jul 7th 2012, 00:52
Definitely!
Gerry Cowie
Jul 6th 2012, 18:38
Agreed, Alfred!
Alfred Gatt
Jul 6th 2012, 18:10
Let the good Lord give the judge a wise mind to make the correct judgement so that justice will triumph.
david debattista
Jul 6th 2012, 21:16
Amen
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