Cleric jailed for 'mishandling' abuse complaints has conviction overturned
The landmark conviction of a Roman Catholic church official imprisoned over his handling of abuse complaints in Philadelphia has been overturned for the second time.
Monsignor William Lynn has been on a legal roller coaster since his 2012 trial on child endangerment charges.
A Superior Court ruling Tuesday awarded Lynn a new trial.
His lawyers say the trial judge allowed too many victims not closely related to his case to testify.
JUST IN: Monsignor William Lynn's Conviction Over Complaints Reversed Again: https://t.co/TpqiMGcYmT
— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) December 22, 2015
They also say the law did not apply to church supervisors when he was secretary for clergy.
Lynn has been back in prison since the conviction overturned in 2013 was reinstated.
He has served about two years of his three-to-six year term.
Defence lawyer Thomas Bergstrom says he will seek to have Lynn released from a Pennsylvania prison.
