Juror Hopes Sandusky Conviction Stands
By: Jeff Preval
Updated: June 28, 2012
STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY - The woman, known as Juror 11 in the Jerry Sandusky trial is speaking about sending Sandusky to life in prison.
Three days after Sandusky's guilty verdict, jurors on the case are getting back to their personal lives. One juror spoke to WTAJ and gave us an inside look during trial.
Ann Van Kuren, a dance instructor at Penn State and in the Centre Region, says the jury wanted to hear from Sandusky, mostly because this was promised to them from Sandusky's attorney in his opening statements. But, sending Sandusky to the stand may not have mattered because of the credibility of the victims.
The Sandusky jury was given credible testimony and evidence during the trial from the prosecution. Van Kuren says the defense's pitch of a conspiracy against Sandusky was not believable. She says the most compelling evidence came from Mike McQueary and the eight known victims.
"It was very difficult, it was difficult and saddening to hear their stories and to understand what they had gone through," said Van Kuren.
The jury had several questions for the court during deliberations. They had testimony re-read from McQueary, a former Penn State graduate assistant and family friend, Jonathan Dranov. Also, the definition of hearsay and circumstantial evidence were repeated.
"We just felt like we needed to hear that again, there was so much information," she said.
Van Kuren says it was tough not following the news, but is glad to have helped convict the former Penn State defensive coach.
"I'm absolutely hopeful they don't overturn this decision. The jury process seemed to really work in this case," she said.
Sandusky's attorneys are investigating what grounds they'll have to appeal. Meantime, Sandusky awaits a psychological evaluation in Centre County Correctional Facility. The review will discover whether Sandusky's a sexually violent predator.
Van Kuren says the first thing she did after trial was call her husband. Her biggest surprise was finding hundreds of people cheering Sandusky's conviction at the Centre County Courthouse on Friday night.
Meantime, Centre County court has released Sandusky's verdict slips.
Three days after Sandusky's guilty verdict, jurors on the case are getting back to their personal lives. One juror spoke to WTAJ and gave us an inside look during trial.
Ann Van Kuren, a dance instructor at Penn State and in the Centre Region, says the jury wanted to hear from Sandusky, mostly because this was promised to them from Sandusky's attorney in his opening statements. But, sending Sandusky to the stand may not have mattered because of the credibility of the victims.
The Sandusky jury was given credible testimony and evidence during the trial from the prosecution. Van Kuren says the defense's pitch of a conspiracy against Sandusky was not believable. She says the most compelling evidence came from Mike McQueary and the eight known victims.
"It was very difficult, it was difficult and saddening to hear their stories and to understand what they had gone through," said Van Kuren.
The jury had several questions for the court during deliberations. They had testimony re-read from McQueary, a former Penn State graduate assistant and family friend, Jonathan Dranov. Also, the definition of hearsay and circumstantial evidence were repeated.
"We just felt like we needed to hear that again, there was so much information," she said.
Van Kuren says it was tough not following the news, but is glad to have helped convict the former Penn State defensive coach.
"I'm absolutely hopeful they don't overturn this decision. The jury process seemed to really work in this case," she said.
Sandusky's attorneys are investigating what grounds they'll have to appeal. Meantime, Sandusky awaits a psychological evaluation in Centre County Correctional Facility. The review will discover whether Sandusky's a sexually violent predator.
Van Kuren says the first thing she did after trial was call her husband. Her biggest surprise was finding hundreds of people cheering Sandusky's conviction at the Centre County Courthouse on Friday night.
Meantime, Centre County court has released Sandusky's verdict slips.
