Bernard walked out of the courthouse today looking confident and his attorney Al Bensabat said the lack of evidence in the case is on their side, “If they’re saying all this stuff took place at the church and they hauled away all the rugs and hauled away basically everything in the church and came up with nothing, it’s strange to me and I hope the jury realizes that.”
 
Bernard is one of seven people arrested in connection with the Hosanna Church in Pontchatoula. Almost three years ago, investigators dug up the property after allegations of sex with children and dogs during satanic rituals.

However, Bensabat is trying to paint a different picture, “I was trying to get across to the jury that this is a witch hunt and if people keep telling you you’re a witch, admit you’re a witch and we’ll go away, eventually he’s going to admit he’s a witch and that’s what he did."
 
On the stand today, a social worker and counselor who independently interviewed the alleged young victims. The key witness though was Bernard’s ex-wife, Nicole, who told jurors how the two-year old revealed “secrets” of sex abuse to her. She talked about how she then gathered evidence on her husband and other church members and fled the state because she feared for her safety. “I think she is probably their best witness which is why they put her on first. My opinion is they’ve had two and a half years to prepare her too,” said Bensabat.
 
Bernard is one of seven accused in the case but he is the first to go to trial. The trial is expected to last three or four days.

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