Court assigns public defender in former Vatican envoy pedophilia case

Santo Domingo.- Public defender Rodolfo Valentin on Tuesday said the National District 7th Instruction Court held a hearing Tuesday to review evidence submitted in the pedophilia case against former Vatican envoy Joseph Wesolowski.

He said Ole Miranda, 18, who was one of Wesolowski’s alleged victims, would’ve been interviewed, but failed to appear.

Valentine said the depositions started at the request of the National District Office of the Prosecutor, which is gathering evidence to send to Poland and seek the former diplomat’s extradition.

He revealed that he was appointed public defender in the case at the Court’s request, but "from the standpoint of respect for constitutional guarantees and due process, it cannot empower a public defender when they don’t even know the defendant."