Steubenville Rape Case: Text Messages From Suspect and Victim Read Aloud
The Steubenville rape case that has captivated and at times divided the country is underway. Yesterday, those inside the juvenile courtroom heard several text messages sent from the accused rapists as well as the alleged victim,which show a sense of fear on both sides, but for completely different reasons.
Trent Mays' phone was taken by police and all text messages removed from it and read aloud to the court. They show that Mays was fearful of the police seeing his text messages and videos on the phone but took comfort from "help" he received from his football coach, Reno Saccoccia.
The alleged victim "was like a dead body. If they press charges, they are going to look at all my texts. I got [football coach] Reno [Saccoccia] to take care of it. I feel like [Saccoccia] took care of it. [Saccoccia] was joking about it so I'm not that worried," the messages read, according to The New York Times.
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Saccoccia later threatened a New York Times reporter when asked about his involvement in the case and the actions of his players at the back-to-school party.
The alleged victim's phone was also confiscated and her messages read aloud for the courtroom. They show a desperate attempt to figure out what exactly happened the night the alleged attack took place. She previously said that she didn't learn that she had been assaulted until she saw it online and in her text messages.
"I wasn't being a slut," read one text. "They were taking advantage of me. I hate my life. Oh my God, please tell me this isn't true. Who was there who did that to me? You couldn't have told them to stop or anything?"
"She didn't affirmatively say no," defense lawyer for the boys, Walter Madison, said earlier this week. His argument that the girl did not "affirmatively say no" set off a firestorm, given that pictures and videos make it seem like she was heavily intoxicated and possibly unable to consent.
The case continues today, and as many as 60 students are expected to testify throughout the trial.
