BELLEFONTE, Pa. - After a 3 day- recess, the former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case resumes with the defense presenting its witnesses.
Joseph Amendola, Sandusky's defense attorney, brought to stand two former PSU assistant coaches who told jurors that "it was not uncommon for coaches to shower with young children following workouts and other physical activities," as reported by USA Today.
Richard Anderson, one of the witnesses, claimed to have seen Sandusky in the shower with young boys but never noticed anything inappropriate.
Booker Brooke, the second defense witness, said that showering with the kids was very common and that he often did so too. When defense lawyer, Amendola asked if he was naked when he showered with the boys, the former assistant coach replies "I never shower with my clothes on," as reported by USA Today.
The heart of the defense lies in showing Sandusky's character and reputation to be noble. The defense is also trying to discredit the testimonies of alleged victims and their parents in order to strengthen his case. Amendola has constantly stated that the victims have been ambiguous about dates and time details of the alleged attacks. His claim is that the victims have an ulterior motive of winning huge amounts of money from the university in civil suits, which he is sure will follow after this trial.
Before the first defense witness took to stand, the mother of Victim No.9 provided a tearful testimony of how her son would spend his weekends over the coach's house and returned home with no underwear. She stated that she held herself responsible for not putting two and two together, and pushing her son to visit the coach since he was such an important figure.
All nine alleged victims claimed that the 68-year-old ex-coach had bought them gifts and told them he loved them. They have testified to incidents where Sandusky touched them in showers, and abused them in his house. One alleged victim told the court that Sandusky threatened him. The victim now 25 years old testified, "He told me that I told anybody, that I would never see my family again," afterwards Sandusky reverted back, according to the victim saying " he didn't mean it and that he loved me," as reported by CNN News.
The ex-Penn State football coach, Jerry Sandusky has been charged with 52 counts of sexual abuse and molestation of young boys during his reign as associate football coach at the University. Prosecutors say that Sandusky had molested over 10 young boys over the span of 15 years. Sandusky has repeatedly denied all charges and claims not-guilty.
