Psychological testimony allowed in Sandusky sex abuse trial

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Psychological testimony allowed in Sandusky sex abuse trial

Fri Jun 15, 2012 5:18pm EDT

(Reuters) - Lawyers for accused child sex abuser Jerry Sandusky are allowed to enter expert testimony that the former Penn State football coach suffers from histrionic personality disorder, a Pennsylvania judge ruled on Friday.

The ruling by Judge John Cleland in Centre County Court opens the door for the prosecution, in turn, to have Sandusky undergo a psychological examination, raising the prospect that he could be evaluated as a pedophile.

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The defense filed a motion on Monday asking that a psychologist be allowed to explain that letters Sandusky wrote to an alleged victim were consistent with histrionic personality disorder and he was not trying to lure them into sex.

People with the disorder are highly emotional attention-seekers who show inappropriate sexually seductive behavior. The prosecution has contended that the letters are part of "grooming behavior" toward victims by a sexual predator.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/15/us-usa-crime-sandusky-idUSBRE85E1FE20120615

[XemaSab]

1. Who the hell cares if he's a common, garden-variety pervert

or a crazy pervert?

Fucker should have shot himself in the head before he raped the first boy.

[yardwork]

3. You and I posted at the same minute and you said what I said, only better.

[XemaSab]

4. .

[yardwork]

2. This is going to backfire on the defense. They are desperate.

The testimony of the victims is going to hang Sandusky. (I'm against the death penalty but I almost wish that were literally true. Child molesters test my resolve against the death penalty.)

The jury is not going to care what other pathologies Sandusky may or may not have. So what if he has hystrionic personality disorder? The jurors are going to think that sounds like something else that might be wrong with a child molester.

And if this article is correct, the defense's move opens the door to the prosecution having an expert testify that Sandusky is a pedophile. Game set match.

[freshwest]

5. They didn't introduce an insanity defense. What punishment would be given from a guilty verdict?

If found guilty, psychological points would be brought up then, not during the trial. Perhaps they believe the jury will feel sorry for him and not convict. I hope they find the boys testimony enough to convict and won't be swayed. No idea what is coming from this, none at all.