PHILADELPHIA, March 24 (UPI) -- Lawyers for two Philadelphia priests in a high-profile sex abuse case said Friday the trial should be delayed because of a co-defendant's guilty plea.
Monsignor William J. Lynn, who is charged with covering up sexual abuse in the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and the Rev. James J. Brennan are scheduled to go on trial Monday. Their lawyers have asked for a new jury following Edward Avery's admission Thursday that he molested an altar boy before he was removed from the priesthood, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Jeffrey Lindy, Lynn's lawyer, told Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina the news "has been saturated" with stories of the guilty plea. Avery also admitted conspiring with Lynn.
Prosecutors said Friday the plea agreement, which includes a sentence of 2 1/2 to 5 years, does not require Avery to testify.
Selecting a jury for the trial was a lengthy process because of the nature of the case and Philadelphia's large Catholic population. The lawyers asked Sarmina, if she decides to start proceedings Monday, to question each member of the jury on whether they have heard about Avery's plea.
