US News
Jerry Sandusky's lawyers seek to cancel accuser's recantation hearing to pursue appeals
Defense attorneys want to appeal a judge's decision to exclude other claims from an upcoming proceeding concerning a witness's alleged recantation.
The short version
- Attorneys for Jerry Sandusky requested the cancellation of a September 8 hearing regarding an accuser's alleged recantation of sexual abuse claims.
- The defense aims to first appeal a judge's refusal to consider additional arguments beyond the recantation in Sandusky's bid for a new trial.
- State prosecutors have characterized the purported recantation as highly suspect.
- A judge scheduled a status conference with defense counsel to address the scheduling request.
Key facts
- Defense lawyers for former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky asked to cancel a September 8 court hearing addressing an accuser's purported recantation.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- The defense indicated it wants to appeal a ruling that declined to hear arguments beyond the accuser's recantation before proceeding with the hearing.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Sandusky, 82, is serving a decades-long prison sentence following a 2012 conviction on 45 counts of sexual abuse.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General has described the accuser's alleged recantation as highly suspect.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- An accuser identified in court records as R.R. claimed in a defense affidavit that authorities coached his recollections and used suggestive questioning.[ABC News · Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the court will grant the defense request to postpone the hearing and permit an interim appeal remains undetermined.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- The veracity of the accuser's alleged recantation and claims of investigative coaching has not been tested or ruled upon by the court.[ABC News · Associated Press]