It’s day two of the Steubenville rape trial and the prosecution are pulling out arguably their most powerful weapon in the case: the photographic evidence.
During the 11-hour court session today, more prosecution witnesses are expected to testify during the second day of the Steubenville rape trial. Testimony focused on how records from the defendants’ cell phones were collected and authenticated.
Joanne Gibb, a computer forensic analyst, will be testifying about the amount and types of information she retrieved from 17 cell phones confiscated as evidence in the case.
Earlier, Capt. Joel Walker of the Steubenville Police Department said he sifted through thousands of pages of records from the phone of the 17-year-old defendant.
“I found a couple of photos of a nude girl,” he said.
Walker said the photos were of a girl nude on a couch and another of her nude on a floor, her arms underneath her.
Yesterday, it was also revealed that the victim was photographed on all fours, head down and partially naked with one of the accused standing with his pants down behind her.
That picture was later deleted by a partygoer, but it might surface if Gibbs was able to get ahold of it.
DETAILS: Silent No More: Victim In Steubenville Rape Incident Will Testify In Trial
The trial, which will move quickly to accommodate the schedule of Judge Thomas Lipps, will most likely reach a decision by Sunday.
Here are some highlights from yesterday’s court session:
- -In the opening statements, prosecutors said that the boys knew the 16-year-old girl was too impaired by alcohol to consent, but took advantage and treated her “like a toy.”
- -The defense spent most of the day trying to prove that the 16-year-old victim was sober enough to consent. They called witnesses to testify, two who told that they asked their friend (alleged victim) not to leave with the boys and she did anyway.
- -One of those witnesses also suggested that even though she was drunk, she was sober enough to consent to sex.
- -Another partygoer, Patrick Pizzoferrato, took the stand on Wednesday and said he pulled $3 from his pocket and offered it to anyone who urinated on the victim. He testified that Ma’lik Richmond was vocal about participating. Pizzoferrato is not facing any charges.
- -Prosecutor Marianne Hemmeter said that in the next few days “You will hear witnesses testify that they saw Trent Mays try to put his penis in her mouth, but because her mouth wouldn’t open, he abandoned that attempt.” She added that over the next few days witnesses will testify that they saw Richmond inserting his fingers into her while she was motionless on a basement couch.
This story is developing. Keep checking back for updates about the Steubenville rape trial.
SOURCE: DailyMail | Cleveland.com
