By Keith Lacey
Jury selection will be held next Monday in a trial against a suspended Roman Catholic priest, charged with 15 sex-related counts in three different cities between 1972 and 1984.
After the jury is selected Monday, jurors will be given a week off before the trial for Donald Holmes, 61, hears from its first witness Monday, May 6.
A special motion hearing was held Tuesday at the Sudbury courthouse, but Justice Louise Gauthier of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ordered a publication ban on evidence presented at the hearing.
Holmes, who also uses the first names Joseph and Laurent, is alleged to have committed sex crimes against a dozen young girls between 1972 and 1984.
One woman, now in her 30s, came forward with a complaint in early 2000 and several more complainants have since made other allegations.
Holmes has been suspended from his post as parish priest at St. Jean de Brebeuf in Sudbury since allegations of misconduct were first made.
Holmes is being represented by defence counsel Andrew Buttazzoni.
Gauthier will be the presiding judge at trial.
The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.
