A preliminary hearing judge on
Thursday ruled a suspected pedophile priest will get a
fast-track trial.
Father Giampiero Peschiulli, 73, was placed under house
arrest in May on suspicion of molesting two altar boys while he
was the parish priest of Brindisi church.
He is charged with sexually abusing the victims aggravated
by "abuse of moral and religious authority".
The alleged offenses date back to 2012, when the boys were
not yet 14, and reportedly lasted through 2014.
The prelate was unmasked by a satirical TV show that
specialises in stings, Le Iene (Reservoir Dogs).
Peschiulli left his post after the alleged abuse was
unveiled in October 2014.
The priest was implicated when one of the presumed victims
told a teacher his story.
Carabinieri police said reports existed of other alleged
sexual abuse by Peschiulli going back as far as 2002, which
can't be prosecuted due to the statute of limitations.
A relative of one of the alleged victims, now an adult,
said the prelate repeatedly groped the 10-year-old boy on his
thighs and near his genitals.
Legal documents seen by ANSA say that parents reported the
priest to the bishop at the time, Monsignor Rocco Talucci, who
"expressed astonishment" that the boys "had spoken at home about
the abuse received, and had invited the victims of the sexual
acts to not report the episode and to not speak about it to
others".
In Italy, a fast-track trial means verdicts can't be
appealed, and the defendant will get his or her sentence reduced
by a third if found guilty.
The next hearing in the case will be in January.
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