Closing Arguments Made: Jerry Sandusky’s Fate Now Rests With The Jury
That was quick! Closing arguments in the Jerry Sandusky Penn State sexual abuse case have been made, and the jurors have begun deliberations. The former assistant coach’s fate is now in their hands.
Let’s retrace the steps of the case, which looks like it’s not going so well for Sandusky. First, the defense rested without even letting him take the stand to speak for himself. The strongest element to their case? That Sandusky has a personality disorder. The prosecution rested quickly as well. They even dropped one count of sexual abuse before cashing in. The judge dropped three. That only leaves Jerry with 48. No big deal.
The prosecution’s entire argument was basically that the defense organized “a conspiracy that collapses under its own weight.” The prosecution’s closing arguments basically went something like, “Find him guilty of everything. Give him the justice he really deserves,” according to USA Today.
The defense’s boiled down to a simple, “It doesn’t add up. It makes no sense,” falling back on the whole you have to be absolutely 100% certain he did this or you can’t find him guilty rule, which is a pretty good trick, but not one we’re guessing the jury will buy. “Hundreds of thousands of kids have been involved with Jerry Sandusky over the years and not one before this witness, not a teacher, not a counselor, said he (Sandusky) did something. Not one,” said the defense. “They kept prompting (the witness),” they alleged of the prosecution. “They kept meeting with (the witness). The system decided that Mr. Sandusky was guilty. And the system set out to convict him.”
But, the prosecution had a rebuttal to that as well. “Mr. Amendola would have you believe there was this great drive to punish or get this person,” said the prosecution. “… If you conclude there is a conspiracy, then someone bring handcuffs for me, and … everyone else.”
The Patriot-News also noted that Sandusky smiled throughout the entirety of the prosecution’s questioning and closing arguments.
The fact that the trial has gone by so quickly can only be really good or really terrible for Sandusky. We’re guessing the latter. Do you think Sandusky has a popsicle’s chance in hell of getting out of this?
