Jury

Anthony Odiong is charged with exploiting his status as clergyman to pursue sex with female parishioners to whom he was providing spiritual directionA jury of eight women and four men in Texas began deliberating a verdict on Friday afternoon in the trial of a Roman Catholic priest charged with illegally exploiting his status as a clergyman to pursue sex with female parishioners to whom he was providing spiritual direction.Anthony Odiong, 57, has pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual assault in the first degree and two such counts in the second degree involving two women, each of whom testified during a trial that began with jury selection on Tuesday in the Texas city of Waco.Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...

• Football writers are providing live coverage, team news, and previews for the upcoming men’s Champions League final and the Women’s FA Cup final. • A 22-year-old player has made a surprise decision to switch his international allegiance from Italy to Australia. • This move comes four years after the athlete previously declined the opportunity to represent Australia during the tournament in Qatar.

Case involving June 2025 protest is escalation in Trump officials’ attack on first amendment rights, say expertsA federal jury has found three protesters, including a US military veteran of the war in Afghanistan, guilty on felony conspiracy charges on Thursday for their part in a June 2025 protest against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).Legal experts have said the Spokane, Washington, case marked a serious escalation in the Trump administration’s attack on first amendment rights. The demonstrators now face potential sentences of up to six years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Continue reading...

Anthony Odiong accused of sexually abusing three female congregants in Waco faces a maximum of life imprisonmentThe criminal trial of a Roman Catholic priest who ministered in Texas and south-east Louisiana and was charged with illicitly abusing his status as a clergyman to pursue sex with spiritually vulnerable female congregants began on Tuesday with jury selection.Anthony Odiong, 57, faces five counts of sexual assault in the first degree and two such counts in the second-degree in a state courthouse in Waco, Texas, involving three women whom he met while working there. Continue reading...

Trial of former DUP leader is expected to last four weeks and is among the most high-profile in Northern Ireland in recent yearsThe jury in Jeffrey Donaldson’s trial for alleged sex offences has been sworn in, launching one of the most high-profile trials in recent Northern Irish history.The former MP and Democratic Unionist party leader entered Newry crown court on Tuesday amid a heavy police and media presence for a trial that is expected to last about four weeks. Continue reading...

Judge says it is ‘disappointing’ there will have to be retrial of prisoners accused over Lostprophets singer’s deathThe jury in the trial of two prisoners accused of murdering the paedophile Lostprophets frontman, Ian Watkins, has been discharged for legal reasons.The disgraced singer was stabbed to death in his cell at high-security HMP Wakefield by Rico Gedel, 25. Watkins was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offences. Continue reading...

Weinstein has been convicted of other crimes in the US and is already behind bars but move leaves rape charge in limboHarvey Weinstein’s retrial in New York on a rape charge ended in a mistrial on Friday after the jury deadlocked in the closely watched criminal case that another jury had already failed to decide last year.The disgraced former Hollywood mogul has been convicted of other sex crimes on the US east and west coasts and is already in jail. But Friday’s declaration of another mistrial leaves the New York rape charge in limbo after three trials. Continue reading...