Owen Labrie, 19, is accused of raping a 15-year-old freshman girl at the prestigious St. Paul’s School in Concord shortly before he graduated past year. Concord New Hampshire Police Labrie is seen after his arrest past year.
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The sufferer took the witness stand briefly on Tuesday, figuring out Labrie earlier than breaking down in tears and being excused.
Testimony in the case resumes on Wednesday.
The accuser, who was 15 at the time, said she initially declined an invitation by then 18-year-old Owen Labrie of Tunbridge, Vermont, to Senior Salute – the practice of seniors boys making sexual conquests of younger students before they graduate. She did not speak out about their meeting until days later when another student posted about it on social media, he said.
The courtroom sat in silence as the alleged victim cried on the stand as she identified Labrie. She later agreed to meet him after a boy she trusted persuaded her that she had nothing to fear.
In spite of Labrie’s claims that the practice was widespread, police said that they are still investigating whether there were others involved. Carney asked the jury of 11 men and three women.
Romantic email and Facebook exchanges between Labrie and the alleged victim before and after their meeting on the roof will prove the encounter was consensual, Carney said.
Labrie has entered a not guilty plea and questions regarding consent and the actions taken during the attack will likely come up in the trial, but prosecutors said in court on Monday that the incident is a crime “because of her age”.
Ruffle said her client will personally testify about their encounter in the coming days.
Earlier Monday, prosecutor Catherine J. Ruffle, the deputy Merrimack County attorney, told the court that Labrie that night became “very aggressive, very fast” after taking the girl to the rooftop of the math and science building on campus. “He pulled her bra down, he bit her breast and it was painful”.
The victim suffered injuries “consistent with a sexual assault”, Ruffle said. “Let me know if there is anything I can do”.
Jim Cole/AP Graduating boys at St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H. are said to challenge one another in taking younger girls’ virginity.
Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau also is an alum, as are 13 U.S. ambassadors, three Pulitzer Prize winners and sons of the Astor and Kennedy families.
Carney described Labrie as an excellent student from a modest background who won a scholarship to attend the elite school, where tuition tops $50,000 per year.
According to police affidavits, Labrie spoke freely about the Senior Salute and about a contest in which seniors tried to have sex with the most underclassmen. He was given the Rector’s Award at graduation for “selfless devotion to school activities”.
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Ruffle also told jurors that Labrie on March 31, 2014, made a list of girls he considered for “possible Senior Salutes” and the only name in capital letters was that of the accuser.
