Opening Statements Conclude In Sandusky Trial
BELLEFONTE (KDKA) – The trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky got underway Monday morning with both the prosecution and defense giving their opening statements.
Sandusky is accused of sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period and during the trial, he's also expected to face many of his accusers.
Opening statements began around 9 a.m. and wrapped up just before noon.
Sandusky arrived early for the trial with about 12 family members.
During their opening statement, the prosecution called Sandusky a "serial predator."
He said humiliation, shame and fear equals silence and then put pictures of eight young boys at the age when they claim they were abused by Sandusky on screen.
The victims claim that they were abused either on Penn State property or at Sandusky's home.
Today's first witness today is expected to detail an alleged shower incident at a hotel that stopped when Sandusky's wife came back into the room. The victim was 13-years-old at the time.
Defense attorney Joe Amendola said Sandusky will tell the jury himself that showering with kids was not uncommon and was not sexual.
Amendola also said the testimony of Mike McQueary is such that he saw something and drew assumptions from what he saw that were not true.
As for the victims' claims, Amendola said they are motivated by money.
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