Prep School Rape Trial: Friends Testify That Owen Labrie Admitted to Sex With Accuser
Owen Labrie, a former prefect at the elite St. Paul’s school who stands accused of raping a 15-year-old girl as part of a sex competition, told police in 2014 that he did not have sex with his accuser. Labrie and his attorney J.W. Carney Jr. have maintained this defense during his current trial, noting that Labrie stopped himself from having sex with the girl in a “moment of divine inspiration.”
This week, however, four of Labrie’s friends testified that Labrie did say he had sex with his accuser after the alleged assault. Per NBC News, these fellow students each confirmed that Labrie told them privately about the incident. Business Insider notes that one witness, who was involved in the school’s sex competition called the “Senior Salute,” read Facebook messages confirming this in court. In the messages, Labrie admits to “poking” his accuser:
Witness: I can’t believe you poked her dude ...how’d it go from no to bone?
Labrie: just pulled every trick in the book.
Witness: congrats. I hope it was everything you imagined.
NBC News reports that the accuser testified last week that her encounter with Labrie “quickly became aggressive.” She said, “I was raped. I was violated in so many ways.”
Labrie is expected to testify himself this week.
