The prosecution branded former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky a "predatory pedophile" in opening statements on Monday in his child sex abuse trial, saying that his young victims remained silent only out of fear and shame.
In the defense's opening statement in a trial closely watched in the United States, Sandusky's attorney Joe Amendola told the seven women and five men of the jury that Sandusky, 68, was a naive man filled with love and affection for young people.
"Jerry Sandusky, in my opinion, loves kids so much he does things that none of us would ever think of doing," Amendola said.
Sandusky faces 52 counts of sexual abuse against 10 boys. If convicted, the former Pennsylvania State University football defensive coordinator could be sentenced to more than 500 years in prison.
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