MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – A woman who accused a priest of sexual assault withdrew her petition of a stalking order against him on Thursday.

The Rev. John Lawani of Nigeria, who has been serving in Manchester, was charged last month with assaulting a woman in his church community.

He was scheduled in civil court Thursday on the stalking petition, but the woman withdrew her complaint.

“I think the withdrawal of this petition at this late hour does speak to the credibility of this case or the lack of credibility of this case,” said John Kacavas, Lawani’s attorney.

The woman’s husband said that she didn’t want to go through the trauma of testifying twice, saying that the truth will come out at the criminal trial.

“I don’t think he’s innocent, and at the end of the day, you will all be surprised to see this evidence come out,” the husband said.

Lawani’s criminal trial is scheduled to start at the end of November.

He’s been charged with sexual and simple assault, as well as two counts of false imprisonment.

Lawani, who has ministered to Catholic African immigrants and refugees in Manchester over the last year, was placed on leave by the diocese.

—

Information from: WMUR-TV, http://www.thewmurchannel.com/index.html

AP-ES-10-05-06 1931EDT