Catholic World News News Feature

Turkish court affirms sentence for priest's killer October 04, 2007

A Turkish appeals court has upheld an 18-year prison sentence for the teenager who killed a Catholic priest in February 2006.

Father Andrea Santoro, an Italian native serving in the seaside town of Trabzon, was slain as he knelt in prayer inside his parish church. His assailant, who has been identified only by the initials "OA," reportedly shouted "Allah is great!" after shooting the priest at point-blank range.

The killer was convicted of murder, and his sentence has now been affirmed by an appeals court, Turkish government officials report. He could be released on parole after serving 10 years in prison.