The trial of a former Saanich priest charged with molesting minors is now expected to start in December.

Philip Jacobs is charged with sexual assault, two counts of sexual interference of a person under 14 and touching a young person for a sexual purpose related to three minors under the age of 14 in alleged incidents spanning September 1996 to June 2001.

Jacobs served as a parish priest at St. Joseph the Worker on Burnside Road West from 1998 to 2002. Prior to that he worked part-time from 1996 to 1998 at St. Rose of Lima in Sooke. In the early 1990s he worked as a priest in Colombus, Ohio.

The judge has heard a number of procedural arguments this month regarding evidence and disclosure from defence and Crown lawyers. The judge is scheduled to rule on a voir dire and other matters on Nov. 13.

Now trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 10, and last for two weeks.

editor@saanichnews.com