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Jerry Sandusky trial: defence opens with testimony from colleagues Jerry Sandusky trial: defence opens with testimony from colleagues
(about 1 hour later)
The first witness for the defence in the trial of Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State defensive co-ordinator accused of having abused 10 boys over 15 years, has told the court he also showered with young boys and insisted it was not unusual.The first witness for the defence in the trial of Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State defensive co-ordinator accused of having abused 10 boys over 15 years, has told the court he also showered with young boys and insisted it was not unusual.
Former assistant coach Dick Anderson said he never saw anything inappropriate when Sandusky brought boys into locker room showers at Penn State. Former assistant coach Dick Anderson said he never saw anything inappropriate when Sandusky brought boys from his charity, the Second Mile, into locker room showers at Penn State.
"If Jerry would bring someone in with the Second Mile, they had been working out, for whatever reason they came in, it was not uncommon ... with the other coaches in the shower as well," Anderson said.
After hearing from Anderson and two other defence witnesses who testified that Sandusky was an admired local figure, Judge John Cleland, told jurors that they could be deliberating the case by Thursday.
That raised the question of whether Sandusky would take the stand. After court was recessed for the day, he said nothing when asked by reporters whether he would testify in his own defence.
The prosecution rested its case on Monday after calling one final witness, the mother of alleged Victim 9. She told the jury how her son's underwear would frequently be missing from the laundry.The prosecution rested its case on Monday after calling one final witness, the mother of alleged Victim 9. She told the jury how her son's underwear would frequently be missing from the laundry.
Earlier, her son – who is now 18 – told the court he had endured three years of sexual assault and rape in the basement of Sandusky's home where no one heard him scream. He said Sandusky's abuse that made him bleed, but he'd "dealt with it".Earlier, her son – who is now 18 – told the court he had endured three years of sexual assault and rape in the basement of Sandusky's home where no one heard him scream. He said Sandusky's abuse that made him bleed, but he'd "dealt with it".
"I always wondered why he never had any underwear in the laundry," his mother said. "There was never any underwear, any socks … that was odd to me.""I always wondered why he never had any underwear in the laundry," his mother said. "There was never any underwear, any socks … that was odd to me."
His mother, who works in a bar, said her son would claim he had thrown it away after an accident. She became tearful as she told the jury she had forced her son to spend time with the coach against his wishes because she thought it would do him good.His mother, who works in a bar, said her son would claim he had thrown it away after an accident. She became tearful as she told the jury she had forced her son to spend time with the coach against his wishes because she thought it would do him good.
They had met through Sandusky's charity and the coach had approached her about taking him to events. They had met through Sandusky's charity and the coach had approached her about taking him to events. 
One night, she told the jury, she arrived late to pick up her son.One night, she told the jury, she arrived late to pick up her son.
"My kid was waiting for me outside. He didn't have any shoes on. It was about 11 o'clock at night. I asked him if he was okay. He said he was just sick and wanted to go home and go to bed," she said, according to CBS Pittsburgh."My kid was waiting for me outside. He didn't have any shoes on. It was about 11 o'clock at night. I asked him if he was okay. He said he was just sick and wanted to go home and go to bed," she said, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
She said Sandusky called her son late at night asking the boy to be a character reference for him after the first round of charges were filed against him in November.She said Sandusky called her son late at night asking the boy to be a character reference for him after the first round of charges were filed against him in November.
She was the last of 21 witnesses called by the prosecution in five days of often harrowing and graphic testimony.She was the last of 21 witnesses called by the prosecution in five days of often harrowing and graphic testimony.
Eight men, aged between 18-28, testified over four days that Sandusky had inappropriate contact with them when they were children, progressing from "soap battles" in the showers to anal and oral rape.Eight men, aged between 18-28, testified over four days that Sandusky had inappropriate contact with them when they were children, progressing from "soap battles" in the showers to anal and oral rape.
They said that Sandusky forced them to engage in sexual acts with him in various places, including showers in the Penn State coaches locker room, hotel rooms, and the basement of his home.They said that Sandusky forced them to engage in sexual acts with him in various places, including showers in the Penn State coaches locker room, hotel rooms, and the basement of his home.
Most of the boys were fatherless or otherwise vulnerable and met Sandusky through his charity, The Second Mile, for disadvantaged children. He would give them gifts and trips and then begin the abuse, according to the prosecution. Most of the boys were fatherless or otherwise vulnerable and met Sandusky through his charity. He would give them gifts and trips and then begin the abuse, according to the prosecution.
One alleged victim told jurors that Sandusky had threatened him if he told others about it. Another said Sandusky warned him he might send him home from Texas, where they'd gone to watch a Penn State bowl game, if he resisted his sexual advances.One alleged victim told jurors that Sandusky had threatened him if he told others about it. Another said Sandusky warned him he might send him home from Texas, where they'd gone to watch a Penn State bowl game, if he resisted his sexual advances.
Two independent witnesses have also testified, saying they saw Sandusky in the shower abusing boys.Two independent witnesses have also testified, saying they saw Sandusky in the shower abusing boys.
The main focus of the defence's strategy has been to point out inconsistencies in witnesses testimony and earlier statements. Last Monday, in his opening statement, Sandusky's lawyer said: "A lot of people lied."The main focus of the defence's strategy has been to point out inconsistencies in witnesses testimony and earlier statements. Last Monday, in his opening statement, Sandusky's lawyer said: "A lot of people lied."
One of the 52 counts against Sandusky was dropped by the prosecution on Monday. They said the offence he was charged under did not apply at the time of the alleged contact.One of the 52 counts against Sandusky was dropped by the prosecution on Monday. They said the offence he was charged under did not apply at the time of the alleged contact.
That leaves 51 counts involving 10 alleged victims over a 15-year span.That leaves 51 counts involving 10 alleged victims over a 15-year span.
Sandusky denies wrongdoing.Sandusky denies wrongdoing.