A JURY has been urged to be dispassionate in considering its verdicts in the case of a former senior clergyman accused of historic sexual abuse charges.

Judge Christopher Prince was addressing jurors who are expected to retire tomorrow (Wednesday August 3) to begin their deliberations over the seven charges facing the ex-Archdeacon of Auckland, Granville Gibson, stemming from the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The allegations relate to separate complaints made by two male teenagers and a novice churchman, in his mid-20s at the time, arising from Mr Gibson’s eight-year incumbency as minister at St Clare’s Church in Newton Aycliffe.

Eighty-year-old Mr Gibson, now living in retirement in Darlington, denies six counts of indecent assault and one further serious sexual offence.

Summing up the evidence and law in the case, on the seventh day of the trial at Durham Crown Court, Judge Prince told the jury panel: “You must put any emotive reaction to these (allegations) aside and bring a dispassionate, rational consideration of the evidence to bear.”

He advised the jurors to give consideration to all seven charges individually and treat each of the three complainants’ cases separately.

“You must consider the evidence for and against the defendant separately in relation to each count.

“You may find him ‘guilty’ on all counts or ‘not guilty’ on all counts, or ‘guilty’ on some and ‘not guilty’ on others.

“You are dealing with three completely separate trials for no other reason than the law allows you to do so, as a matter of convenience and a matter of cost, saving us having to duplicate a lot of the evidence which would have taken significantly longer than the seven days we have been here so far.”

Judge Prince told jurors that they were dealing with events from as far back as 39 years, in relation to some of the charges, and he said they should not have any “pre-conceived notions” over historic allegations.

He said due to the, “significant passage of time”, some potentially useful material and witnesses are no longer available, including two former bishops whose poor health has prevented either being able to give evidence in the case.

The judge reminded the jury of the evidence heard in the case relating to the first two complainants, the two male teenagers allegedly abused by Mr Gibson.

But he will resume his summing up tomorrow (Wednesday August 3) by referring to the evidence heard in the case involving the third complainant, the young churchman at the time, before sending the jury out to begin their deliberations and consider their verdicts.