A defence lawyer, has asked that the court to use its discretion, to decide an appropriate penalty for a former Catholic priest, convicted of five charges of sexual offenses.
Public Solicitor Philip Kaluwin told the National Court in Kokopo, there is no physical evidence of the 46-year old former priest Philip Kelerea, abusing the five complainants. But Prosecutor Lukara Rangan compared the case to that of a pedophile and child molester, telling the court that if clergies are involved, offenders must be treated differently because of their position. The court also heard that Kelerea has admitted the offenses to the Archbishop of Rabaul Archdiocese, Francesco Panfilo, and is waiting a decision from Rome to strip the clergy off his priesthood. Lawyer Rangan asked the court for an accumulative sentence from each of the five charges, saying that despite admitting to his superior, Kelerea pleaded not guilty in court, costing the State a lengthy trial, A sentence will be handed down today. Comments are closed.
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