Sandusky sexual-abuse trial to begin

Pennsylvania's top court denied Jerry Sandusky's 11th-hour bid to delay the start of his child sex-abuse trial, permitting jury selection to begin Tuesday. The state's Supreme Court ruled against an "Emergency Application for Extraordinary Relief" filed by the former Penn State defensive coordinator, who has tried for months to stop, postpone or limit the case. In a "per curiam" decision reflecting the unanimous but unsigned collective decision of the court's seven justices, the court Monday denied the delay without fuller explanation. Sandusky lawyer Joseph Amendola had asked for the delay, arguing that two experts -- a jury consultant and a mental health professional -- were not ready; an investigator would be having surgery; two potential defense witnesses would be unavailable because they exercised their Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination, and the defense did not have enough time to review all the evidence. Jury selection in the town of Bellefonte, about 10 miles northeast of State College, where the Pennsylvania State University is located, was to begin Tuesday morning. Sandusky, arrested Nov. 5, 2011, is charged with 52 counts of sexually abusing 10 boys over 15 years. Some of the alleged assaults occurred on the Penn State campus. He allegedly met the boys through the Second Mile children's charity he founded. Sandusky, 68, denies all allegations. His arrest engulfed the Penn State football program in scandal and led to the firing of renowned head Coach Joe Paterno for "failure of leadership" Also ousted was Graham Spanier, Penn State's longtime president. Mike McQueary, a former Penn State quarterback who became an assistant coach, testified before a grand jury he had told Paterno about an alleged sexual-abuse incident he witnessed in a Penn State locker room. Paterno reported it to his superiors but not to police. Prosecutors have not said whether McQueary will be called to testify. Paterno -- who led the Penn State Nittany Lions for nearly 46 years and held a record 409 victories by an NCAA Division I football bowl subdivision -- died of lung cancer Jan. 22 at age 85. In a separate ruling, presiding Judge John Cleland said Monday Sandusky's accusers -- several of whom are now adults -- must use their real names when testifying. He also said reporters could not send Twitter messages or blog from the courtroom.