On stand for first time, Sandusky maintains innocence, blames lawyer for questionable TV spot
By Colin Deppen | PennLive.com | August 12, 2016BELLEFONTE — In an appeal hearing here on Friday, one-time Penn State football luminary and convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky took the stand for the first time in his years-long legal saga, claiming errors in his defense that warrant a new trial.
Sandusky, now 72, was convicted of sexually abusing 10 boys after a widely publicized and at times circus-like trial here in 2012. It ended with Sandusky being convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
On Friday, the former defensive coach returned to the Centre County Courthouse, where his 2012 trial took place, to argue that his lawyers had been ineffective and that as a result he was denied a fair trial.
Friday was the first day in a three-day appeals hearing that will reconvene later in the month.Sandusky argued that then-defense lawyer Joe Amendola pushed him into a nationally televised interview with NBC broadcaster Bob Costas in which many felt Sandusky, while trying to maintain his innocence, came oddly close to conceding boundary issues with boys.
Sandusky said Amendola failed to prepare him for the interview or explain that what he said could be used against him at trial.
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