Lawyers for a priest and former Catholic school teacher have argued to a Pennsylvania appeals court that their clients were wrongly convicted of child sexual assault.
The Philadelphia case is linked to that of Monsignor William Lynn, the first US church official ever prosecuted over his handling of abuse complaints. Lynn has been granted bail while he appeals his child-endangerment conviction.
Now two of his co-defendants are appealing their convictions last year. They involve the same accuser.
Lawyer for the Rev. Charles Engelhard and former teacher Bernard Shero say they have new evidence about the accuser and a key witness who corroborated some of his story.
Shero’s lawyer, Burton Rose, says the Superior Court heard arguments Tuesday without ruling.
Engelhardt is serving six to 12 years and Shero eight to 15 years.
