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Mention of Satanism Held Not Enough To Reverse Priest's Murder Conviction

By Howard M. Friedman

In State of Ohio v. Robinson, (OH Ct. App., July 11, 2008), an Ohio state appellate court affirmed the conviction of former Catholic priest Gerald Robinson who, in 2006, was convicted of a bizarre 1980 murder of a nun. Sister Margaret Ann Pahl's body was found in the sacristy of a Catholic hospital in Toledo, Ohio, strangled and then stabbed 31 times. Investigators eventually found 9 stab wounds to her chest were made through an altar cloth in the shape of an upside down cross. In a 95-page opinion, the court rejected eight challenges to Robinson's conviction, including a claim that the state improperly injected "Satanism" into the trial through the testimony of expert witness, Father Jeffrey Grob. Robinson argued that the state tried to stereotype him as an "Antichrist" and establish that there was "a satanic motivation" for the murder. However, closely examining the evidence, the court held that this was not the state?s theory. Rather Father Grob saw the crime scene as displaying an attempt to mock Sister Pahl?s life of devotion to Christ. Today?s Toledo Blade reports on the decision.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on July 12, 2008 (boomark / email).