Ohio rape trial of football players should be closed: prosecutor

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Ohio rape trial of football players should be closed: prosecutor

By Drew Singer
Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:21pm EST

(Reuters) - The trial of two Ohio high school football players charged with raping a 16-year-old girl should be closed to the public to protect the accuser in a case that has received national attention, the state's attorney general said on Thursday.

The case caused a national sensation earlier this month when the hacker activist group Anonymous publicized a picture of two young men carrying the girl by her wrists and ankles and released a video showing other young men joking about the alleged assault.

A defense attorney has also requested that the trial be closed. Both the office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and the defense have said that the accuser has also made the request.

A hearing on the motions before visiting Hamilton County Judge Tom Lipps is set for Friday in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court. In Ohio, it is easier to close juvenile hearings than adult trials.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/24/us-usa-crime-ohio-idUSBRE90N0ZM20130124

[dballance]

1. I Think The Trial Should Be Featured on Facebook

With all the same respect they gave the victim by posting pictures of her there.

[redqueen]

2. I agree.

This girl does not deserve to have the lurid details of the horrific things done to her dutifully reported all over the media, and debated by the types of people on the net who are all too willing to share their virulent hatred for girls and women.

[riderinthestorm]

3. That 16 yr old gir gets to decide imho if she wants it open or closed.

If this is request is coming from her then okay.

[Sheldon Cooper]

4. I am in favor of this to protect the young woman involved.

Unfortunately, I have almost no faith in the justice system in this part of the country. How can we be sure that things won't be swept under the carpet - is there some way for us to be reassured of this, without invading her privacy and harming her more than she already has been? Does anyone know?

[siligut]

5. Exactly, how to protect the victim while exposing the perps

Maybe the trial in closed, but we need on going reporting on the accused.

[davidn3600]

6. Its a huge risk to close it

They've already tried to cover this up and sweep it under the rug several times.

You are going to be giving them yet another opportunity to do so.