NEW YORK — Gerald Robinson, a defrocked Roman Catholic priest in Ohio, lost his first appeal last week. Robinson was convicted in May 2006 of the 1980 murder of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl. Pahl was stabbed 31 times in the sacristy of a chapel at Toledo’s Mercy Hospital. A suspect since 1980, Robinson was not arrested until 2004. In a lengthy decision, a three-judge panel of Ohio’s 6th District Court of Appeals rejected numerous claims by Robinson including ineffective assistance of counsel and improper arguments by the state.

Robinson claimed his attorneys failed to file a motion to dismiss before trial because of preindictment delay since nearly a quarter of a century had passed from the murder to the indictment. During that time, police reports were lost and witnesses died. In a thorough analysis of the record and the law, the appeals court found no error in the failure to dismiss the charges on the grounds of delay.

The appeals court also rejected Robinson’s argument that the state improperly injected Satanism into the case as a motive. Robinson took issue with the state’s explanation for a round mark of blood on the Sister Margaret Ann’s forehead. The state argued that Robinson anointed her using her own blood after first dipping in blood the round end of the letter opener used to stab her. The state also argued that the victim’s body, covered with an altar cloth, was stabbed nine times in the form of an inverted cross. A witness for the prosecution explained that this behavior made a mockery of the rituals of Catholicism.

Twenty-two more stab wounds were also inflicted to the neck and face. Sister Margaret Ann’s lifeless, exposed body was found on the floor of the sacristy. Her stockings and undergarments had been rolled to her ankles and her dress and brassiere were pulled up.

Robinson has always denied killing Sister Margaret Ann on Holy Saturday, April 5, 1980. He intends to appeal last week’s decision to the Ohio Supreme Court.

–Beth Karas, In Session correspondent