Philadelphia

Philadelphia Monsignor William Lynn Fights Retrial That He Covered Up Clergy Sexual Abuse

The priest at the center of the clergy sex abuse scandal in the Philadelphia Archdiocese continued his fight Friday as prosecutors attempt to retry him on charges that he covered up abuse cases.

A judge said a decision will be revealed on March 1 on if there is enough evidence to bring Monsignor William Lynn to trial, again, in May. The judge gave attorneys from each side time to filed briefs in the case.

Lynn’s attorney, Thomas Bergstrom, says there was wrongdoing by prosecutors five years ago. He filed motions, in part, arguing that the commonwealth hid evidence in the 2012 trial that could have been favorable to Lynn's defense.

The prosecution calls the defense claims "absurd."

Lynn already served 33 months of a 3- to 6-year sentence dating back to the previous trial, where he was convicted of covering up clergy sex abuse — the first Catholic official in the city to be convicted on those charges.

That conviction was overturned as the Pennsylvania Superior Court believed jurors heard too much evidence about unrelated matters. The commonwealth appealed to the state supreme court, which upheld the lower court’s decision, leading to Lynn’s release — on bail — from prison in August.

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams has vowed to keep fighting for the conviction.

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