Lawyers Meet For Final Pre-Trial Hearing In Sandusky Case
BELLEFONTE(KDKA) -- The final pre-trial hearing was held in the Jerry Sandusky case less than a week before he heads to trial on 52 counts of child sexual abuse.
A secret meeting on Tuesday between Sandusky, the prosecution and the defense lasted longer than today's public meeting.
Defense attorney Joe Amendola arrived Wednesday at the courthouse without his client, a sure indicator that no plea deal is in the works since the defendant would have to answer questions of the judge should that be the case.
Amendola and the prosecutor argued about whether the charges against alleged victims 2, 6 and 8 should be thrown out.
In an order released Wednesday morning, the judge said that the defense had asked for another delay of the trial and referred "secret Grand Jury matters."
During the closed-door meeting, the judge dealt with the matters and denied the motion for another delay.
Alleged Victim 2 was the boy unknown to prosecutors who was seen in the shower of the Lasch football building by former coach Mike McQueary.
But the defense argues McQueary's testimony is unreliable. The judge wondered whether a jury should decide that issue.
The alleged sex crimes against Victim 8 were witnessed by a former Penn State janitor who was not available to testify because he suffers from dementia.
The defense argues that's hearsay. The prosecutor disagrees and the judge has yet to rule.
The judge also has yet to rule on the motions of some alleged victims who say their names should be kept private.
Victims' rights advocates agree even as the defense has the right to confront the accuser.
"And it does absolutely life-changing damage to the people who go through that on top of the damage from the assault that's been done," Kristen Houser with the PA Coalition Against Rape said.
"So, we really hope that the judge will send a strong message to say, 'It's safe to come forward. It's safe to cooperate with the state. It's safe to tell us who offenders are and it's in the best interest of public safety to do that and keep your privacy,'" she continued.
Jury selection is slated to begin next week.
Much has happened to Penn State since the Sandusky scandal broke, but current University President Dr. Rodney Erickson believes he and the university are doing everything they can to move the school forward.
Dr. Erickson spoke with KDKA-AM's Larry Richert and John Shumway Wednesday morning to talk about what the school is doing to move forward.
Listen to the entire interview here:
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