Former Winnipeg priest, convicted sex offender facing additional charges dies

Saul Simmonds, a lawyer for Ronald Leger, pictured in this file image, says the 82-year-old had been in palliative care and died Tuesday.

A former Winnipeg priest who was convicted of sexual abuse and was facing more charges has died.

Saul Simmonds, a lawyer for Ronald Leger, says the 82-year-old had been in palliative care and died Tuesday.

Leger was accused of abusing four boys who were between 10 and 12-years old when the alleged crimes began in 1981.

Simmonds says the case was to go to trial in September.

He expects a stay will now be entered in the case.

Simmonds says his client had maintained his innocence on the charges from the outset.

"Based upon our investigation, many witnesses had come forward who would support his recollections of the event and he was vigorously intending to defend himself," said Simmonds.

"This is sad for many reasons, but from his perspective because of the ability he had to defend himself in these circumstances."

Leger previously pleaded guilty to sexually abusing three boys ranging in age from nine to 18 between 1980 and 2004. He was given a two-year prison sentence for those charges in 2016.