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Before closing arguments on Thursday, prosecutors presented physical evidence, as well as testimony from students, school employees, experts, and police. The defense presented only one witness: Labrie himself.At least until Labrie's testimony Wednesday, it seemed almost impossible for the defense to come up with a believable argument that he didn't penetrate the girl—which, because of their age, meant Labrie would likely be convicted of misdemeanor sexual assault under New Hampshire law.Previously: A Rape Trial Is Revealing the Details of a Competitive Sex Ritual at an Elite New England Prep School
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After they spent a few minutes taking in the view, Labrie brought her back inside to the attic, a dark room roaring with the sound of the building's industrial machinery. Though she claims she said "no" three times and insisted on keeping her underwear on, the girl alleges that Labrie proceeded to finger her, "scraping" the inside of her body. When he began to lick her vagina, she says she "froze" and that he then proceeded to penetrate her with what she thought was his penis (she deduced this because she could see his hands). He then stopped to spit on her when wasn't able to get all the way in, she claims.In her testimony, the girl said she blamed herself for not being stronger, and for not saying no more forcefully.
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In his own way, Labrie accounts for all the evidence. And in a classic defense move in rape trials, his lawyers says the alleged victim is simply not credible.The girl's roommate told police that before the encounter, she said, "I'll probably let him finger me and at most I'll blow him."The defense attorney recalled to jurors that when he asked her about this, she told him, "I don't remember." This, Labrie's high-powered defense attorney Jay Carney said in his closing statements, was evidence that she "deliberately and intentionally lied to you under oath."In a classic defense move in rape trials, his lawyers says the alleged victim is simply not credible.
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