SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — A trial is underway for a Catholic priest in Gatlinburg accused of sexual battery. Lawyers picked a jury Wednesday morning.
An immigrant woman from Honduras said the priest fondled her in February 2020 at Saint Mary's Church. That woman said she was meeting behind closed doors for a one-on-one meeting with the priest.
On Tuesday, the prosecution played a tape in court of Antony Punnackal describing to detectives his version of what happened on Feb. 17 in his church office. Punnackal says that the woman came to him that day, saying her boyfriend was recently killed.
Punnackal says she was crying, so he brought her back to his office where he said he consoled her with a hug. That's when the woman said he groped both her breasts and behind.
Punnackal said he didn't intentionally do that, but also said it may have happened by accident. He said there was a height difference between the two that could have resulted in him grabbing the woman inappropriately.
The woman said that the door was shut and locked by Punnackal that day, which made it hard for her to leave the room. Punnackal said that he did not shut the door. He also said that they shared a kiss on the cheek in his office.
It wasn't the first time that the two had met. The woman had gone to his office before, he, said. He also said she previously asked him for around $6,000 to help pay for an immigration attorney. He said he also had taken her on grocery-shopping trips as well.