Trial to begin in Ohio school football rape case

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — Television news trucks are lined up outside an eastern Ohio courthouse for the trial of two high school football players charged with raping a 16-year-old West Virginia girl.

The case set to be heard in juvenile court Wednesday has brought unprecedented attention to the small city of Steubenville through a barrage of social media and criticism that more students should have been charged.

The defendants have been on house arrest but attending school at the justice center’s school for detained juveniles.

Their attorneys deny the charges. They say the alleged victim and two friends from West Virginia are now expected to testify after a judge in that state reversed an earlier decision on the availability of those witnesses.

The defense says their testimony could bolster the players’ argument.