Jury selection starts in Provo rape trial

PROVO — Jury selection begins today in the high-profile trial of two former Brigham Young University football players accused in court documents of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl after plying her with hard liquor.

And while BYU President Cecil Samuelson says he's not personally following the case very closely, he took time during a speech to faculty on Tuesday to mention the impact the allegations have had on the school's reputation.

"The thing that I am concerned about, and I mention it to you, is the continual, almost daily media focus on a few aberrant acts, as horrendous as they were, (detracting) from 30,000 outstanding young people who are not only law-abiding but are exemplary in everything they're doing," Samuelson told the Deseret Morning News after the speech.

The case has drawn intense local, national and regional attention.

Initially, four former players were charged in December with gang-raping a 17-year-old girl after giving her vodka and watching a pornographic video with her.

Two of those players, Karland Bennett and William Turner Jr., accepted plea offers from the state. Both are expected to testify.

After the rape allegations surfaced, BYU completed a study of its athletic department and fired then-football coach Gary Crowton. Since then, BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe and other athletics officials, including current head football coach Bronco Mendenhall, have repeatedly stressed to athletes the importance of adhering to the religious school's Honor Code, a list of rules that apply to personal conduct and appearance.

In his remarks to faculty, Samuelson praised Holmoe for "making our realities in intercollegiate athletics congruent with our expectations."

Samuelson said he's not closely following the case because the accused players are no longer BYU students.

"It is a sad situation for everybody involved. But this is not one of those things that BYU has a dog in the fight any more," he said. "There isn't any one currently involved in BYU that I know about that is directly involved in that or anything else."

While no current players or coaches are facing charges in the case, Justin Leuttgerodt, a linebacker on this year's team will be called to testify.

BYU spokesman Carri Jenkins said Leuttgerodt is in good standing with the school.

Opening arguments are expected to begin once jury selection is complete. Prosecutors and defense attorneys will choose eight jurors and one alternate from a pool of 60 Utah County residents who received a summons two weeks ago to appear in Provo's 4th District Court for jury duty.

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Contributing: Tad Walch

E-mail: jhyde@desnews.com