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Jerry Sandusky Back in Court

Disgraced Pennsylvania State University football coach Jerry Sandusky testified Friday in his bid for a new trial, vigorously denying he abused boys for decades and disparaging his former legal team. He also urged Sandusky not to take the stand in his own defense and sanctioned an interview with NBC’s Bob Costas with practically no preparation.

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The 72-year-old Sandusky didn’t take the stand during his 2012 trial, a decision that’s among the issues he’s raised in arguing his lawyers didn’t represent him adequately.

Sandusky said it was his intent to testify at his June 2012 criminal trial but was told not to by his then attorney Joe Amendola. The hearing is scheduled to continue August 22 and August 23.

The hearing is scheduled for three days.

Sandusky, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and white sneakers as he walked into the Centre County courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., accompanied by guards with his hands handcuffed, denied he is serial sexual predator, testifying he has never had oral or anal sex with anyone.

On Friday, he told the court that he learned he would be doing an NBC television interview just minutes before it occurred and that his defense lawyer strongly advised him against taking the stand to reject claims that he had molested boys.

The ruling also “blew the doors wide open” for other victims who previously believed they were outside the statute, Daniel Kiss, the attorney who filed the petition on behalf of a Boston man, said at the time of the ruling.

The first day of an appeals hearing for Jerry Sandusky is over, after the former Penn State assistant coach insisted he is innocent of child molestation charges, and his lawyers described key decisions that were made before and during his 2012 trial.

Sandusky is serving 30 to 60 years in Greene State Prison, where he’s been largely segregated from the prison’s general population.

Friday’s hearing falls under Pennsylvania’s Post-conviction Relief Act which means he can claim his constitutional rights were violated, his attorneys were ineffective, or there is new evidence. Sandusky remained free on bail until his conviction but, without the preliminary hearing, his lawyers lost a chance to learn more about the witnesses and the prosecution’s case.

If the judge rules in Sandusky’s favor he could get a new trial.

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Sandusky was convicted of acts against 10 boys, but at least 30 men were involved in a civil settlement with Penn State, and the number could grow.

Jerry Sandusky heads to court