Jan 23, 2006 2:30 pm US/Eastern
Druce Continues Testimony In Murder Trial
WORCESTER (CBS4) ―
Joseph Druce was back on the witness stand Monday in his murder trial. Druce stands accused of killing convicted pedophile priest John Geoghan.
On the stand Monday, Druce said he confronted Geoghan about the molestations and Geoghan was "arrogant" and said he was worth far more than the millions the Boston Archdiocese had already paid to settle molestation lawsuits against him.
"I was just, like, that's it, that's it. I've got to stop this guy," Druce said. "I couldn't get it out of my head."
Druce took the witness stand for a second day in his trial for the Aug. 23, 2003, killing of Geoghan, a defrocked priest who was serving time for groping a 10-year-old boy and had been accused of molesting 150 other children.
Druce, who is already serving a life sentence in another murder, is using an insanity defense, arguing that his own molestation as a child and years in prison had filled him with rage.
During his often-rambling testimony, Druce described elaborate fantasies he used to pass the time in prison. He said he imagined himself as a Hollywood mogul, living in mansions and having beautiful actresses as his girlfriends. He also said he fantasized about meeting the Pope, who made him a saint.
He did not describe the actual killing, but was asked by his attorney, John LaChance, to describe what was going through his mind during the murder and in the weeks leading up to it.
Druce said he heard Geoghan talking on the phone to his sister and also overheard conversations he had with other inmates about plans to move to South America once he was released from prison so he could work with children again.
In one conversation, Druce said, he overheard Geoghan discussing with other inmates how to molest young boys.
"That just, like, freaked me out," he said.
He confronted Geoghan twice about what he had heard, Druce said. During one conversation, he told Geoghan, "You're bankrupting the archdiocese, you're costing them $10 million," a reference to the amount the church had paid out in lawsuits.
Geoghan replied, "I'm worth $20 million," Druce said.
During a later conversation, Druce claimed he told Geoghan he had molested 150 to 200 children and "destroyed all kinds of lives." Druce claimed Geoghan responded, "I'm worth 300 of them."
When asked by his lawyer why he killed Geoghan, Druce referred to his claims that he was molested as a child.
"I wanted to get the thoughts out of my mind of being molested myself, and the arrogant way he answered my questions," Druce said.
He also said he wanted to "make a statement."
"I had seen myself as the designated individual who had to put a stop to the pedophilia in the church," he said. 1/4
After Geoghan was dead, he said, he felt relief. "It had been done. It was over ... I had peace of mind."
(© 2006 CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
