Rape case against former Vanderbilt football players starts; jurors warned of graphic evidence

Published February 05, 2015

Potential jurors in the case against two former Vanderbilt University football players accused of raping a student in a campus dorm were warned Monday that the trial will contain sexually graphic videos and photos.

Davidson County Assistant District Attorney General Jan Norman also said that jurors would likely spend a great deal of time talking about different types of sex and alcohol use.

The warnings came as jury selection got underway in a case that rocked Vanderbilt and its football program. Four former players are accused in the rape, with two on trial this week.

Brandon Vandenburg and Cory Batey are each charged with five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. Vandenburg also faces additional charges of tampering with evidence and unlawful photography.

Brandon Banks and Jaborian "Tip" McKenzie have also been charged in the case but are not scheduled for trial at this time. It's not clear whether the two will testify against Vandenburg and Batey. Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins told jurors that they are potential witnesses in the case.

The former players have pleaded not guilty to raping an unconscious co-ed in June 2013.

The trial is scheduled to last up to two weeks.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/rape-case-against-former-vanderbilt-football-players-starts-jurors-warned-of-graphic-evidence