Jerry Sandusky arrives the courthouse for the second week of his trial at the Centre County Courthouse, in Bellefonte, Pa., Monday, June 18, 2012. The defense is to begin presenting it’s case in Sandusky’s trial on 52 counts of child sexual abuse involving 10 boys over a period of 15 years on Monday. (AP Photo/Centre Daily Times, Nabil K. Mark)GENARO C. ARMAS and MARK SCOLFORO
BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) – The child molestation trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky could be in jurors’ hands before the end of the week, with witness testimony on his behalf expected to wrap up in less than three days.
Judge John Cleland announced the schedule on Monday after the first six defense witnesses testified about Sandusky’s reputation in the community and the demanding hours and travel required of Penn State coaches.
There was no indication as to whether Sandusky might testify, and Sandusky looked an Associated Press reporter in the eye and said nothing when asked if he planned to testify. Cleland said defense witnesses should be finished by mid-day Wednesday, and closing statements are now expected Thursday morning.
The defense portion of the case – which followed 21 prosecution witnesses, including eight young men who claimed Sandusky sexually abused them as children – included a former Penn State coach who said he knew Sandusky brought boys into showers but never saw him do anything wrong.