The trial on rape and kidnapping charges for a retired Roman Catholic priest from New Orleans who is a self-admitted child molester has been delayed indefinitely after the defendant was hospitalized on Tuesday, the morning of jury selection in the case.
The judge set to preside over Lawrence Hecker’s trial, Benedict Willard, also abruptly transferred it to another section of New Orleans’ state criminal courthouse, citing “disrespect” from the lead prosecutor in the case, Ned McGowan, in an unrelated matter.
