Sex trial starts for ex-Penn State coach
Source: Agencies |
June 6, 2012, Wednesday
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JERRY Sandusky, who faces dozens of charges of sexually abusing 10 boys over 15 years while working with one of the most storied sports programs in the US, arrived yesterday for the start of a trial that he repeatedly had tried to delay.
Jury selection began in the case against the 68-year-old Sandusky, the former assistant Penn State football coach.
The proceedings are taking place about 16 kilometers from the campus, and picking 12 people to decide his fate could prove a monumental task in a Pennsylvania region where practically everyone went to the university, works there, knows someone there or is a fan of the football team.
"It's going to be a very, very difficult chore to pick a jury in that community," said Brian McMonagle, a Philadelphia defense attorney.
Prosecutors had been so concerned that they asked Judge John Cleland to bring in prospective jurors from another county. Cleland rejected the request but said he would reconsider if a jury isn't selected in a reasonable amount of time.
Sandusky, who ran a charity for at-risk youth where prosecutors say he met his victims, has denied the 52 criminal counts against him.
On Monday, the judge ruled that Sandusky's alleged victims will have to testify using their real names. Lawyers for several of them had asked that their clients be allowed to testify under fake names, a rarity in criminal cases.
"Arguably any victim of any crime would prefer not to appear in court, not to be subjected to cross-examination, not to have his or her credibility evaluated by a jury - not to put his name and reputation at stake," the judge said. "But we ask citizens to do that every day in courts."
The judge also ruled that no electronic communications by reporters will be permitted during the trial.
Jury selection began in the case against the 68-year-old Sandusky, the former assistant Penn State football coach.
The proceedings are taking place about 16 kilometers from the campus, and picking 12 people to decide his fate could prove a monumental task in a Pennsylvania region where practically everyone went to the university, works there, knows someone there or is a fan of the football team.
"It's going to be a very, very difficult chore to pick a jury in that community," said Brian McMonagle, a Philadelphia defense attorney.
Prosecutors had been so concerned that they asked Judge John Cleland to bring in prospective jurors from another county. Cleland rejected the request but said he would reconsider if a jury isn't selected in a reasonable amount of time.
Sandusky, who ran a charity for at-risk youth where prosecutors say he met his victims, has denied the 52 criminal counts against him.
On Monday, the judge ruled that Sandusky's alleged victims will have to testify using their real names. Lawyers for several of them had asked that their clients be allowed to testify under fake names, a rarity in criminal cases.
"Arguably any victim of any crime would prefer not to appear in court, not to be subjected to cross-examination, not to have his or her credibility evaluated by a jury - not to put his name and reputation at stake," the judge said. "But we ask citizens to do that every day in courts."
The judge also ruled that no electronic communications by reporters will be permitted during the trial.
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