Mistrial declared in ex-altar boy’s suit

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A mistrial has been declared in the case of a former altar boy who sued the Diocese of Burlington for negligent supervision of a priest he accused of molesting him.

After about 16 hours of deliberations over three days, jurors told a judge today they were hopelessly deadlocked.

The man, a 40-year-old Waitsfield resident, says the Rev. Edward Paquette molested him up to 50 times when he was an altar boy at Christ the King church in Burlington in the 1970s.

The lawyer for the alleged victim says he will seek a new trial.

Bishop Salvatore Matano wouldn’t say the ruling was a relief. He says he wants the cases to be resolved so everyone can work toward reconciliation.

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