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St Paul's school trial: alleged rapist describes 'romantic' encounter St Paul's school trial: alleged rapist describes 'romantic' encounter
(about 4 hours later)
With a studious demeanor and a strong voice, a former New Hampshire prep school senior accused of rape told jurors he had a consensual “romantic” encounter with the 15-year-old that cooled off when he decided against having sex.With a studious demeanor and a strong voice, a former New Hampshire prep school senior accused of rape told jurors he had a consensual “romantic” encounter with the 15-year-old that cooled off when he decided against having sex.
Related: St Paul's rape case: student said 'divine inspiration' prevented sex, officer saysRelated: St Paul's rape case: student said 'divine inspiration' prevented sex, officer says
“I thought to myself maybe you shouldn’t do this ... I had a second thought while I was looking down at her and trying to put on the condom,” said Owen Labrie, 19.“I thought to myself maybe you shouldn’t do this ... I had a second thought while I was looking down at her and trying to put on the condom,” said Owen Labrie, 19.
Now in its second week, the trial has cast a spotlight on the culture at the elite St Paul’s school, where annual tuition exceeds $50,000 and alumni include the US secretary of state, John Kerry.Now in its second week, the trial has cast a spotlight on the culture at the elite St Paul’s school, where annual tuition exceeds $50,000 and alumni include the US secretary of state, John Kerry.
Labrie took the stand as the first witness in his defense against aggravated sexual assault charges that could carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted. Labrie took the stand as the first and only witness in his defense against aggravated sexual assault charges that could carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison if he is convicted. Closing arguments begin Thursday.
The son of a Vermont high school teacher and a landscaper, Labrie admitted he asked the 15-year-old to join him for a “senior salute”, a school tradition in which seniors ask underclassmen on a date at the end of high school.The son of a Vermont high school teacher and a landscaper, Labrie admitted he asked the 15-year-old to join him for a “senior salute”, a school tradition in which seniors ask underclassmen on a date at the end of high school.
“I thought she was having a great time,” said Labrie, who wore a navy blue blazer with gold buttons, a dark red tie and brown corduroys. He attended the St Paul’s school on a scholarship.“I thought she was having a great time,” said Labrie, who wore a navy blue blazer with gold buttons, a dark red tie and brown corduroys. He attended the St Paul’s school on a scholarship.
In graphic detail marked by limited emotion, the once-popular athlete and student leader answered his attorney’s blunt questions.In graphic detail marked by limited emotion, the once-popular athlete and student leader answered his attorney’s blunt questions.
“At any time did you put your penis under her underwear?” his attorney JW Carney Jr asked.“At any time did you put your penis under her underwear?” his attorney JW Carney Jr asked.
“No,” he told the jury of 11 men and three women.“No,” he told the jury of 11 men and three women.
Labrie said the girl helped him put a flannel blanket down on the floor, helped him take off her pants, and laughed and giggled as they rolled around making out.Labrie said the girl helped him put a flannel blanket down on the floor, helped him take off her pants, and laughed and giggled as they rolled around making out.
He said she never cried out in pain, or offered protest as he kissed her bra over her breasts and ran kisses up and down her legs.He said she never cried out in pain, or offered protest as he kissed her bra over her breasts and ran kisses up and down her legs.
His accuser left the courtroom in tears as Labrie’s read aloud their email exchanges, which they sometimes wrote in French. Her father, a senior executive at a global investment firm, sat in the front row.His accuser left the courtroom in tears as Labrie’s read aloud their email exchanges, which they sometimes wrote in French. Her father, a senior executive at a global investment firm, sat in the front row.
Under cross-examination, Labrie remained calm and kept his answers short. He denied plotting to have sex with the girl and claimed he lied to his friends when he said they had sex and he performed oral sex on her.
“I wanted to boast to my friends. I misled them,” he said.
He admitted deleting messages from his Facebook page and sparred with prosecutor Joseph Cherniske over the meaning of the word “slay” in his messages about the girl.
He maintained the slang phrase had a range of meanings about encounters with girls and did not equal sexual intercourse.
“You wanted to slay (her)?” Cherniske said.
“Yes,” Labrie answered.
“You want all of these people to believe that after all that time spent thinking about her, having foreplay, you stopped?” Cherniske asked incredulously.
Labrie replied they didn’t completely stop. They kept kissing but he had chosen not to penetrate her, he said.
Labrie’s version of the encounter stands in stark contrast to his accuser’s.Labrie’s version of the encounter stands in stark contrast to his accuser’s.
During three days on the witness stand, she cried while describing a painful sexual assault that left her frozen and unable to fight back or try to flee. She said she was a virgin and accused him of raping her with his fingers and his penis, and performing oral sex on her.During three days on the witness stand, she cried while describing a painful sexual assault that left her frozen and unable to fight back or try to flee. She said she was a virgin and accused him of raping her with his fingers and his penis, and performing oral sex on her.
The girl, whose older sister had once dated Labrie, testified she willingly met him for a secret tour of the roof. She admitted she helped him take off her pants but said she did not want to have sex.The girl, whose older sister had once dated Labrie, testified she willingly met him for a secret tour of the roof. She admitted she helped him take off her pants but said she did not want to have sex.
Four friends of Labrie testified he told them he had sex with the girl.Four friends of Labrie testified he told them he had sex with the girl.
Investigators claim he was trying to score with the most girls at the school to win a contest of sexual conquests.Investigators claim he was trying to score with the most girls at the school to win a contest of sexual conquests.
His former roommate, who now attends Brown University, testified on Monday, denying the boys were competing.His former roommate, who now attends Brown University, testified on Monday, denying the boys were competing.
Another graduate of St Paul’s testified a popular phrase on the campus for getting out of trouble was “deny til you die”.Another graduate of St Paul’s testified a popular phrase on the campus for getting out of trouble was “deny til you die”.
One of Labrie’s friends testified he said he had sex with the girl. Jurors saw an exchange of messages between Labrie and the friend in which Labrie wrote: “Deny until I die tonight.”One of Labrie’s friends testified he said he had sex with the girl. Jurors saw an exchange of messages between Labrie and the friend in which Labrie wrote: “Deny until I die tonight.”
He is accused of four felonies and five related charges. Judge Larry M Smukler threw out an additional misdemeanor charge accusing Labrie of endangering the welfare of a child in his position as a prefect, or student leader.He is accused of four felonies and five related charges. Judge Larry M Smukler threw out an additional misdemeanor charge accusing Labrie of endangering the welfare of a child in his position as a prefect, or student leader.
Labrie told the jury he was planning to study theology at Harvard where he had won a full scholarship before his indictment and had planned to go into the ministry.Labrie told the jury he was planning to study theology at Harvard where he had won a full scholarship before his indictment and had planned to go into the ministry.