Defense wraps case without Sandusky on stand
By: Carolyn Donaldson/John Clay
Updated: June 21, 2012
BELLEFONTE, CENTRE COUNTY --Defense attorneys decided ending their case by putting Jerry Sandusky on the stand Wednesday wasn't a smart play. Instead they wrapped up with more character witnesses and tried to discredit a witness for the prosecution.
On day 7 of the Sandusky trial, the defense called Dr. Johnathan Dranov to the stand. He was a family friend of Mike McQueary's.
"Dranov was supposed to be a bombshell witness for the defense, that McQueary made inconsistent statements. That didn't happen, " according to WTAJ Legal Analyst Bernie Cantorna.
Instead, Dranov gave convincing testimony that McQueary did witness a sexual act going on between Jerry Sandusky and a boy in the Penn State showers.
The defense also called several character witnesses to the stand Wednesday, but it was who they didn't call that made the biggest splash. Jerry Sandusky did not take the stand in his own defense.
"As a matter of law, the jury will be instructed not to hold that against him, not hold adverse inference from the fact that he didn't testify. The reason we tell jurors that is because there is a common sense desire to hear both sides," added Cantorna.
"If Sandusky had taken the stand, he may have made admissions that hurt his case. Another reason he didn't testify is because it would have allowed prosecutors to cross examine him and perhaps bring more evidence to bear. but it made the trial lop sided, hearing from 8 accusers and no denial from the man on trial," offered Chris Mallios, a former Philadelphia prosecutor.
"The victim's testified, spoke to investigators, testified in the courtroom. Subject to cross examination, called liars by defense attorney, when you juxtapose that to the fact that Sandusky did not testify, it doesn't look good," added Mallios.
Defense Attorneys have one more opportunity to sway the jury during closing arguments set for Thursday morning.
On day 7 of the Sandusky trial, the defense called Dr. Johnathan Dranov to the stand. He was a family friend of Mike McQueary's.
"Dranov was supposed to be a bombshell witness for the defense, that McQueary made inconsistent statements. That didn't happen, " according to WTAJ Legal Analyst Bernie Cantorna.
Instead, Dranov gave convincing testimony that McQueary did witness a sexual act going on between Jerry Sandusky and a boy in the Penn State showers.
The defense also called several character witnesses to the stand Wednesday, but it was who they didn't call that made the biggest splash. Jerry Sandusky did not take the stand in his own defense.
"As a matter of law, the jury will be instructed not to hold that against him, not hold adverse inference from the fact that he didn't testify. The reason we tell jurors that is because there is a common sense desire to hear both sides," added Cantorna.
"If Sandusky had taken the stand, he may have made admissions that hurt his case. Another reason he didn't testify is because it would have allowed prosecutors to cross examine him and perhaps bring more evidence to bear. but it made the trial lop sided, hearing from 8 accusers and no denial from the man on trial," offered Chris Mallios, a former Philadelphia prosecutor.
"The victim's testified, spoke to investigators, testified in the courtroom. Subject to cross examination, called liars by defense attorney, when you juxtapose that to the fact that Sandusky did not testify, it doesn't look good," added Mallios.
Defense Attorneys have one more opportunity to sway the jury during closing arguments set for Thursday morning.
