The trial for former Longwood student Gus Altschuler, arrested and charged for rape and "abduction with the intent to defile" of a female Longwood student on Feb. 23, 2014, is underway and is expected to conclude today, Wednesday, March 10.
The latter charge was dismissed at the end of an intense, emotional opening day of arguments and testimony in which both the alleged victim and Altschuler were moved to tears.
Prince Edward County Circuit Court Presiding Judge Hon. Kimberley S. White is overseeing the trial, which began with Altschuler pleading 'Not Guilty' to both charges.
With families seated anxiously in the courtroom, White then initiated the jury selection process with Altschuler's defense attorneys and Prince Edward County Commonwealth attorneys, representing the alleged victim, eventually settling on a 12-person jury, 11 of which are female. Assistant Commonwealth Attorneys Morgan Greer and Robert Bauer represented the alleged victim while a joint team from Stone, Cardwell & Dinkin, PLC from Richmond, Hawthorne & Hawthorne PC of Southside Virginia, and Newport News-based attorney James Ellenson represented Altschuler.
After each side presented their opening statements, six individuals were called in front of the court to testify including the alleged victim, the arresting officer of the Farmville Police Department, a Longwood Resident Assistant, the forensic nurse and a forensic scientist. Judge White directly ordered all present in the courtroom, where all electronic devices are prohibited, to refrain from publicizing specific details of the testimonies.
Much of the day's deliberation consisted of back and forth arguments focused on wording in the alleged victim's initial report to the Farmville Police Department. Additionally, her own recent criminal history played a significant role in her testimony.
With facts around the alleged victim's initial police report called to question multiple times over the day's proceedings, defense attorney Claire Caldwell, of Stone, Cardwell & Dinkin, PLC, sought to have both felony charges struck. Judge White chose only to dismiss the second felony charge, that of "abduction with the intent to defile," in light of the day's testimonies.
According to Virginia state law 18.2-61, being found guilty of rape is punishable "in the discretion of the court or jury, by confinement in a state correctional facility for life or for any term not less than five years."
The trial is expected to resume at 9 a.m. tomorrow at the Prince Edward County Courthouse in downtown Farmville. The Rotunda will provide updates at the conclusion of the trial.
UPDATED 03/12/15: This article previously referred to the alleged victim as the victim, the has been corrected.
