Jury Continues Deliberations In Historic Church Sex Abuse Trial
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The jury in the clergy abuse case has worked quietly Tuesday. Deliberations continued through lunch and the panel had no additional questions.
Over the years, many victims, defendants, defense and prosecuting attorneys have told me this is consistently the most difficult part of the legal process -- the waiting. The waiting for the jury to reach a verdict. And so much hangs in the balance.
Monsignor William Lynn, the first church official in the United States to be charged with protecting and covering up for alleged or suspected predator priests, faces a sentence of up to 10 1/2 to 21 years in prison if he is convicted.
Father James Brennan, charged with the attempted rape of a teen in 1996, faces a possible maximum sentence of 13 1/2 to 27 years in prison.
Both men have pleaded not guilty.
Again, both sides have made their cases and now the jury will have the final say -- guilty or not guilty.
