BELLEFONTE, Pa. -
The trial of former Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky for alleged sexual abuse of children was adjourned until Monday, following graphic testimony from the eighth and likely final prosecution witness.
That witness on Thursday described performing oral sex on Sandusky and being raped, according to observers in the Bellefonte, Pa., courtroom. He said that he called out at least once for help from the basement of the Sandusky home during an assault but that he was not sure if Sandusky's wife heard him. He was one of three alleged victims to testify Thursday.
Wes Oliver, a professor at the Widener Law school in Harrisburg, Pa., said that the last witness's testimony was the most vivid of the trial so far but that it could also be problematic because some of its details differed from those of earlier witnesses.
The prosecution is expected to wrap up its case Monday.
Prosecutors have charged Sandusky with abusing 10 boys from 1994 to 2008. He has denied that any sexual activity took place and pleaded not guilty to 52 criminal counts.
This week saw testimony from alleged victims whose ages now range from 18 to 28. Most alleged that their first physical contact with Sandusky occurred in his car, when he placed his hand on their legs, and progressed during sleepovers at his home or showers at a Penn State athletic facility.
After each man testified, senior deputy attorney general Joseph McGettigan projected photographs taken at the time of the alleged abuse onto a big screen, showing the witnesses as smiling boys, often with Sandusky's hand on their shoulder.
During cross-examination, Joe Amendola, Sandusky's attorney, asked the young men why they had provided different dates for the alleged abuse in their reports to state police and a grand jury.
Amendola is expected to begin introducing witnesses early next week.
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