I’m beginning to think that lawyer incompetence is looking more and more likely.
Some legal expert on CNN last night said the only possible way Sandusky takes the stand is if he personally demands it. No sane defense attorney in the universe would put that guy in front of a jury. As has been alluded to, there is suspicion that Sandusky’s lawyer may actually be that dumb.
NBC Nightly News played that audio clip on Monday night’s broadcast (June 18).
Why the delay, I don’t know.
That presumes that he has a non-zero chance of acquital without it. People here have been speculating that he does not, and if that’s correct, then what does he have to lose in taking a shot?
Whatever shattered remains are left of his dignity and the regards of the few remaining fence sitters who might still be able to be convinced he’s not guilty.
If you ask me, his dignity is even lower standing than his chance of acquital, at this point. He has already been found guilty by the public at large. I don’t think his testimony can change that. I don’t even think the verdict will change that (even if by some miracle he’s acquitted).
IMO, if the defense has been as weak as it seems, then he should go for the hail mary and testify.
On another note, one thing that’s striking is that some of the stronger of the promised defense witnesses don’t seem to have materialized (unless I’ve missed it). I’m thinking specifically of the alleged boy-in-the-shower-who-was-not-raped, and the guy who McQueary told a completely different story to.
Histrionic Personality Disorder defense.
Just pull a random diagnosis out of thin air and apply liberally.
I don’t get it. How does his being an attention whore factor into the trial on any level ? Is the defence arguing he only fucked kids to get on TV or something ?
The defense is saying that this personality disorder explains the content of letters Sandusky wrote to one of the boys. They can’t deny the existence of the letters, so they have to explain them. They still deny the physical acts of which he’s accused.
From here.
IMO he’s that delusional, which is a kind of stupid. The lawyer is a guy who, at age 49, got a 16 year old client pregnant. Marrying her later doesn’t mitigate the reality that age constraints regarding his sexual behavior are blurred. Not to mention what is appropriate in professional behavior. So I think that he & Sandusky appear to share some fundimental life views - this goes some way in explaining why he & Sandusky could believe their defense has viability.
The defense has rested without calling Sandusky.
ISTM that the defense had a better day yesterday, and Dottie Sandusky was an effective witness.
Also, the defense has been pushing the line that the cops coached the victims to testify against Sandusky. They played a recording, which was of limited value IMO, but today they put another ex-Second Mile kid who claims the cops tried to pressure him to testify (falsely) against Sandusky.
The second of these (Dranov) testified today.
Wow! This puts him in the class as such revered legal eagles as Lionel Hutz, Saul Goodman, and Barry Zuckerkorn.
If the charges weren’t so serious and disgusting it would make one hell of a sitcom.
A series based on a lawyer sleeping with a teenage client is too dark and seedy for a sitcom. But it’d work as a series on AMC or HBO or something.
I wonder how much “star power” will be a factor. IMHO, it was a large part of the reason that OJ got off. Is Sandusky a “star” in western PA? I live in a college football crazy state as well but I have a hard time seeing a former assistant coach as much of a star.
Naaah. Naked 16 year old totally works for HBO, but not PaunchyLawyer49.
[QUOTE=Crotalus]
The defense is saying that this personality disorder explains the content of letters Sandusky wrote to one of the boys. They can’t deny the existence of the letters, so they have to explain them. They still deny the physical acts of which he’s accused.
[/QUOTE]
Uh. I… guess that’s an odd tack then. IANAPsychiatrist, but histrionics are about agoraphilia, pleasing crowds and always trying to be “that guy” in social settings, right ? Not sure the PD would influence behaviour when writing private letters at all, it wouldn’t “kick in” in that setting would it ? If he’d written stuff on a blog or on Facebook, that would be different I guess.
People have been wondering that for a while. Penn State dominates that community and their football team is a big deal, but he’s not Joe Paterno and the accusations are very serious. If the witnesses are allegations are credible, I don’t think it matters who he is. And as a non-lawyer observer I don’t think the defense has done much to cast doubt on the charges.
From the perspective of a guy living in State College:
Paterno’s house had student vigils and protests against his firing.
Sandusky’s house has his neighbors crossing the street to not walk near it.
I should also add that the same CNN legal expert also said that the defense is banking on this jury with strong Penn State ties to have a mentality of “let us police our own,” which is completely absurd.
Amendola also told a reporter that if you believe that witnesses saw what they claimed to have seen and yet did nothing, “I suggest you dial 1-800-REALITY.” That number reportedly turned out to be a phone-sex line.
There’s also this gem, which was to the jury: