Amendola Closing Argument
By: Mallory Lane
Updated: June 21, 2012
BELLEFONTE, CENTRE COUNTY - Jerry Sandusky's Defense Attorney Joe Amendola began his closing argument at 10:10 A.M. Thursday morning.
Amendola said this will be a tough decision for the Jury, calling it a "daunting task."
Amendola continued saying that on November 5, five lives of the Sandusky family came to an end as lawyers chased down accusers so they could represent them and get money from the trial. He said many of the accusers knew each other and some of the accusers were assaulted over the same period. He asked how this could happen if Sandusky was so busy.
He pointed out that no direct physical evidence can link Sandusky to the crimes alleged against him.
He reminded the Jury that testimony from Accuser #1's neighbor showed that the boy and his family want to get money off case.
Amendola said Sandusky used "stupid" judgment, but that Sandusky told Amendola that he was innocent of the charges.
"The system decided that Sandusky was guilty," said Amendola. "The system went out to prove that."
Amendola said that two accusers lived with each other during alleged abuse and questioned whether or not they conspired against Sandusky.
He also brought up the question surround Dottie Sandusky's testimony in which she alleged that no sexual contact occurred and she never heard screaming from any of the boys staying at her house. Amendola questioned how all this sex be happening with Dottie in the house and their children nearby?
Amendola said if there was anal sex of boys, wouldn't there be any physical evidence of abuse?
Amendola constantly referred to the "recollection of the jurors," saying, "it's your recollection."
He said the police kept going back to the accusers to extract information, again questioning why? Amendola said it's because the state was having difficulties finding alleged victims, so they pressured the kids to saying there was abuse.
"Do we have to get hit in the head with a brick to figure out [Sandusky's] life is at stake," said Amendola.
He said that a Second Mile kid, David Hilton, was pressured by police to talk about abuse even though Hilton said he never experienced anything. Amendola asked why the cops didn't charge Sandusky after Accuser #1 came forward in November 2008.
"Mike McQueary didn't do one thing to stop what he saw," said Amendola. "He couldn't say that there was something sexual."
Amendola maintains there was no cover up at Penn State University because respected people at PSU didn't report abuse because there was no abuse.
He also highlighted that McQueary played at Second Mile golf tournaments after alleged abuse.
Amendola said court personnel will show pictures of accusers.
"If he did these things he should rot in jail," said Amendola. "But what if he didn't do it, his life is destroyed we have a fired president, a dead coach, it's all awful."
Amendola wants Sandusky not guilty on all charges. He said Sandusky will write a book called "Slam" because Sandusky's world is over.
Amendola said this will be a tough decision for the Jury, calling it a "daunting task."
Amendola continued saying that on November 5, five lives of the Sandusky family came to an end as lawyers chased down accusers so they could represent them and get money from the trial. He said many of the accusers knew each other and some of the accusers were assaulted over the same period. He asked how this could happen if Sandusky was so busy.
He pointed out that no direct physical evidence can link Sandusky to the crimes alleged against him.
He reminded the Jury that testimony from Accuser #1's neighbor showed that the boy and his family want to get money off case.
Amendola said Sandusky used "stupid" judgment, but that Sandusky told Amendola that he was innocent of the charges.
"The system decided that Sandusky was guilty," said Amendola. "The system went out to prove that."
Amendola said that two accusers lived with each other during alleged abuse and questioned whether or not they conspired against Sandusky.
He also brought up the question surround Dottie Sandusky's testimony in which she alleged that no sexual contact occurred and she never heard screaming from any of the boys staying at her house. Amendola questioned how all this sex be happening with Dottie in the house and their children nearby?
Amendola said if there was anal sex of boys, wouldn't there be any physical evidence of abuse?
Amendola constantly referred to the "recollection of the jurors," saying, "it's your recollection."
He said the police kept going back to the accusers to extract information, again questioning why? Amendola said it's because the state was having difficulties finding alleged victims, so they pressured the kids to saying there was abuse.
"Do we have to get hit in the head with a brick to figure out [Sandusky's] life is at stake," said Amendola.
He said that a Second Mile kid, David Hilton, was pressured by police to talk about abuse even though Hilton said he never experienced anything. Amendola asked why the cops didn't charge Sandusky after Accuser #1 came forward in November 2008.
"Mike McQueary didn't do one thing to stop what he saw," said Amendola. "He couldn't say that there was something sexual."
Amendola maintains there was no cover up at Penn State University because respected people at PSU didn't report abuse because there was no abuse.
He also highlighted that McQueary played at Second Mile golf tournaments after alleged abuse.
Amendola said court personnel will show pictures of accusers.
"If he did these things he should rot in jail," said Amendola. "But what if he didn't do it, his life is destroyed we have a fired president, a dead coach, it's all awful."
Amendola wants Sandusky not guilty on all charges. He said Sandusky will write a book called "Slam" because Sandusky's world is over.
