Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Sandusky Testimony continues: Trooper Trouble and Dottie Speaks

Jerry Sandusky
As much as the prosecution had been moving in a straight line towards a gimme conviction in the trial of former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, Tuesday's testimony will give it at least some pause.

The reason: Twofold.

The biggest, perhaps, revelation in court Tuesday was the conflicting testimony of two Pennsylvania State Troopers. Those two troopers appear to have left on their audio recorders during a conversation with Victim #4's attorney and according to Sandusky defense attorney Karl Rominger.

On that tape, Corporal Jospeh Leiter and Trooper Scott Rossman are heard telling the victim's attorney that what he described happening to him was very similar and consistent with other victims. And when asked about it in court, Leiter and Rossman gave different answers.

Yahoo Sports reporter Dan Wetzel summarizes what happened RIGHT HERE

OK.

What happened here in the legal world unfortunately is a big "No-no". It feeds, albeit marginally, into the defense claim of a conspiracy. In the real world...and on TV, it's just confirming proof of a pattern. In the legal world, it doesn't work that way.

Will it be enough to derail the case? Probably not. But it will raise...and has already raised questions. And cases like this aren't always debated on whether someone did something or not, they are sometimes trials on procedure and if it was followed correctly.

Which to many is an inherent flaw in the system.

Anyway....

The other big event of the day is Dottie Sandusky, Jerry's wife, and her testimony.

Dottie Sandusky told jurors and others in court that she "Never saw Jerry do anything inappropriate with the children that came to their home". She said she didn't know why there would be so many people who would come out and accuse her husband of the crimes he is charged with.

Aside from that, she offered no real revelations, telling jurors that her husband usually fell asleep before she did and that she could recall how many kids came to their home over the years. She did say that at least one or more of the victims maintained a relationship with the family post-dating the accusations and characterizing a couple of them as either "Conniving" or "Clingy"

A summary of her testimony by StateCollege.com RIGHT HERE

Here's the wrap from our friends at WHP-TV


Finally, Judge John Cleland reaffirmed the defense feels it will be wrapped with their case by noon on Thursday. Given time for closing arguments and jury instructions, we are guessing it will be in the jury's hands by the end of the day Friday or beginning of the day on Monday.

The HQ also thought it interesting that attorneys for scribe Sara Ganim filed a motion to quash her subpoena to testify in Bellefonte citing First Amendment and journalism objections...

How awesome is that...???

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