Posted on 02/10/2004 4:29:45 PM PST by nuconvert
Bishop Knew Police Were Looking for Car When He Sought Windshield Repair
By Anabelle Garay Associated Press Writer
Published: Feb 10, 2004
PHOENIX (AP) - Bishop Thomas O'Brien conceded during his hit-and-run trial Tuesday that he asked about getting his windshield fixed even though he knew police were investigating whether the car had been involved in a deadly accident. "I was interested in getting the windshield fixed at some time," the Roman Catholic clergyman said in his second day on the witness stand. "There is no way I would have gotten that windshield fixed that day."
A diocesan secretary testified earlier that O'Brien called her about the windshield, which was smashed when O'Brien's car hit a pedestrian, the Monday after the weekend accident. She said she thought O'Brien wanted it fixed the same day.
But O'Brien said the secretary might have misunderstood him.
The bishop has said he initially thought has car had been hit by a rock or a dog. Prosecutors have argued that O'Brien knew or should have known that he hit a pedestrian on the night of June 14.
The 68-year-old bishop is accused of leaving the scene of an accident that killed Jim Reed. If convicted, O'Brien could get nearly four years in prison.
His arrest ended his 21-year career as head of the Phoenix Diocese. The accident occurred less than two weeks after prosecutors announced O'Brien had struck a deal to avoid indictment on obstruction charges for protecting child-molesting priests.
The bishop was told by a diocesan official, Monsignor Dale Fushek, the day after the accident that police were concerned the car might have been involved in a fatal accident, but O'Brien did not speak to police until the next day, Monday.
Under cross-examination, O'Brien was asked why he did not call police after he learned officers were investigating a fatal accident.
"All this time had elapsed and police had still not contacted me," he said. "That led me to believe what happened Saturday night did not involve me."
Prosecutor Mitch Rand pointed out that O'Brien did not answer his phone Sunday night or immediately answer his door for police on Monday morning. O'Brien said he did not answer the phone because he was in his home chapel on Sunday night, and on Monday morning, he thought the officers, who were not in uniform, were reporters.
O'Brien said that after he learned of the fatal accident, he went into a room with his assistant and cried.
"There were certainly feelings of regret, a deep profound sense of sorrow and sadness that I was possibly involved in the death of this individual," he said.
"There were certainly feelings of regret, a deep profound sense of sorrow and sadness that I was possibly involved in the death of this individual," he said.
I wonder if he's going for a record. First, you destroy the lives of countless children; then when you get caught protecting the pedophiles, you start killing pedestrians. Nice guy.
How about, the Bishop was not speeding, and in the proper lane. He didn't jump the curb to hit the guy. What does 'strike' a deal have to do with a car accident?
I guess it's just Catholic bashing time, you guys just can't get enough.
O'Brien had 48 hours to turn himself in, yet he played "come and get me, copper."
An innocent, he ain't.
That's a decision the jury makes my friend. A 'poor drunken soul' staggers into taffic and gets bumped. Happens all the time without the driver realizing it.
I agree. We are being brainwashed by Mel Gibson haters. Constantly and it seems seasonally all the multi year old accusations and all unfortunate rare incidences involving the clergy is twisted and retwisted.
Like the Democrates whining again about Bushes Guard service , it's enough to drive you nuts.
sweep them out to the curb
That's exactly the goal of the 'bashers' and what they mean is sweep everyone on the curb. They have the same objective as Islamists. Don't fall for it.
You know, I don't care if the bishop was driving 0.25 mph, and the pedestrian was taking a nap in the road. Fleeing the scene of an accident, repairing the damage caused by hitting a human body, and hiding evidence is hardly Catholic Bashing.
A Bishop who worked to hide FELONIES (after all, I'm sure the children loved being anally raped by priests, huh?) and strikes a deal to avoid doing hard time, is hardly Catholic bashing.
This is simply an evil man, who got his jollies at the expense of children. This evil man then ran over a pedestrian (drunk, sober, or even Democrat is immaterial).
Or, are we simply supposed to declare it suicide and forget all the damage this man has done simply because he's Catholic? Nice double standard you have there. I'm absolutely certain that if this were a non-Catholic (say, Bill or Hillary Clinton, Al Franken, jewish rabbi, or school teacher) you'd be screaming for the death sentence.
Well, 'fleeing, repairing and hiding evidence' is being adjudicated. They should have the facts which you simply assume from a Catholic bashing press. They would blame this one on the pope if they could.
Truth is, at the whim of the press, the courts via opportunist DA's elevate the bashing to a new level. It took the Supreme last year to decide against these kooks attempting to prosecute cases well beyond the statute of limitations period.
This is simply an evil man, who got his jollies at the expense of children.
Are you serious? You have met the man? Or are you a self righteous media absorbing sponge? You are the definition of a basher.
Or, are we simply supposed to declare it suicide and forget all the damage this man has done simply because he's Catholic?
No, but, conversely we shouldn't condemn him because he is Catholic. Doesn't it bother you that their are hundreds of hit and runs each year all over the country, yet this guy gets the 'front page' ad nauseum.
Nice double standard you have there. I'm absolutely certain that if this were a non-Catholic (say, Bill or Hillary Clinton, Al Franken, jewish rabbi, or school teacher) you'd be screaming for the death sentence.
No double standard at all. I'd wager if you compared the groups these people belong to: Politicians, Jewish comedians, School Teachers , they are more notorious by double. I exempt the Rabbis because, I am not your opposite, an anti-semite.
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