A Hollis man's apparent admissions to religious elders about molesting two sisters cannot be used as evidence in his trial, a judge has ruled. Gregory Blackstock, 45, is scheduled to go to trial Monday on charges he molested two East Kingston girls. Even without the admissions to elders at his Jehovah's Witnesses congregation, prosecutors say there is enough evidence to bring the case to trial.
The state wanted to subpoena a minister and elders from Blackstock's congregation to testify about meetings at which they discussed the allegations. Judge William Groff ruled last week the meetings were confidential and protected by religious privilege. Blackstock is charged with assaulting the two East Kingston sisters at his home in Hollis between June 1996 and October 1998, and with assaulting a Hollis girl at his home at various times between September 1989 and June 1996. The two cases are to be tried separately, the first next Monday and the second on June 25. (AP)
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You will find more about this case on http://watchtower.observer.org
Kent