Blackwell Defense Calls For Mistrial Due To Police Testimony
Baltimore, Maryland --
The detective who first investigated sexual abuse claims against a now defrocked priest testified Monday that he had reason to believe the alleged victim had been molested 20 or 30 times and that others also had been victimized, prompting the defense to ask for a mistrial.
"I found him to be credible," Lt. Frederick Roussey said, describing his interview with the alleged victim, Dontee Stokes, after being assigned the case in August 1993.
Roussey took the stand as the trial of the former priest, Maurice Blackwell, entered the second day of testimony. Testimony from Roussey and Detective Shawn Harrison prompted defense attorney Kenneth Ravenell to ask for a mistrial three times, arguing the comments were not fair to his client.
Judge Stuart Berger told the jury to disregard comments about other victims. He allowed the trial to continue, but asked jurors to leave the courtroom momentarily as he called attorneys up to the bench for a private conference to caution the prosecution and witnesses.
Testimony ended early on Monday because the prosecution's last witness, Monsignor Brian Ferme from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, was unavailable in the afternoon. Prosecutor Jo Anne Stanton said she planned to wrap up her case Tuesday.
Blackwell, 58, was once a popular and highly regarded pastor at St. Edward's Church. He is charged with four counts of sexual child abuse against Stokes, a former altar boy in the church.
Read the article at TheWBALChannel.com dated February 14, 2005
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The detective who first investigated sexual abuse claims against a now defrocked priest testified Monday that he had reason to believe the alleged victim had been molested 20 or 30 times and that others also had been victimized, prompting the defense to ask for a mistrial.
"I found him to be credible," Lt. Frederick Roussey said, describing his interview with the alleged victim, Dontee Stokes, after being assigned the case in August 1993.
Roussey took the stand as the trial of the former priest, Maurice Blackwell, entered the second day of testimony. Testimony from Roussey and Detective Shawn Harrison prompted defense attorney Kenneth Ravenell to ask for a mistrial three times, arguing the comments were not fair to his client.
Judge Stuart Berger told the jury to disregard comments about other victims. He allowed the trial to continue, but asked jurors to leave the courtroom momentarily as he called attorneys up to the bench for a private conference to caution the prosecution and witnesses.
Testimony ended early on Monday because the prosecution's last witness, Monsignor Brian Ferme from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, was unavailable in the afternoon. Prosecutor Jo Anne Stanton said she planned to wrap up her case Tuesday.
Blackwell, 58, was once a popular and highly regarded pastor at St. Edward's Church. He is charged with four counts of sexual child abuse against Stokes, a former altar boy in the church.
Read the article at TheWBALChannel.com dated February 14, 2005
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