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January 25, 2006

Inmate convicted of pedophile priest's murder tells jury: 'Good job'

WORCESTER, Mass. -- A jury rejected an insanity defense and found prison inmate Joseph Druce guilty of first-degree murder today in the strangulation of pedophile priest John Geoghan, a central figure in Boston's clergy sex abuse scandal.

After the verdict was read, Druce looked at the jury and said, "It's all right. Good job." As the jury was filing out of the courtroom, he said: "No hard feelings. Have a good night."

Druce admitted sneaking into Geoghan's cell in August 2003. He jammed the door shut with a book, then beat and strangled the 68-year-old Geoghan before the guards could stop him.

The defense had argued that Druce was mentally ill and under the delusion that God had chosen him to kill Geoghan and send a message to pedophiles around the world.

Read the full Associated Press story ...

Posted by Andrea Panciera  at 3:30 PM | Permalink