Court of Appeal acquits 'iron priest' of sexual coercion
The Lisbon Court of Appeal has acquitted priest Ismael Teixeira, known as the 'iron priest', of the crimes of coercion and sexual coercion for which he was convicted at first instance.
Court of Appeal acquits 'iron priest' of sexual coercion
The Lisbon Court of Appeal has acquitted priest Ismael Teixeira, popularly known as the 'iron priest', of the crimes of coercion and sexual coercion for which he had been convicted at first instance. The decision was handed down last Thursday, following an appeal lodged by the 51-year-old cleric.
At trial in the lower court, the priest had been sentenced to a suspended prison sentence of three and a half years. The conviction also included the payment of compensation of €33,000 to the woman who accused him, an employee of the São Mamede parish in Lisbon.
The Court of Appeal decided to acquit the priest of all charges, finding that the account of the alleged victim did not have sufficient substance to sustain the conviction. With this decision, the cleric is also relieved of the obligation to pay financial compensation to the complainant.
Source: Correio da Manhã
Source: Correio da Manhã