CONCORD, N.H. — The latest on the trial of a former student at an elite prep school accused of raping a freshman as part of a tradition called Senior Salute (all times local):
4 p.m.
A recent graduate of a New Hampshire prep school accused of raping a freshman girl when he was a senior has acknowledged deleting Facebook messages between him and his friends, including one in which he wrote that he "used every trick in the book" to have sex with the girl.
Owen Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont, said during cross-examination Wednesday that he regrets lying to his friends when he bragged about having intercourse with the 15-year-old girl less than an hour after she says he raped her.
The 19-year-old Labrie contends the two had consensual sexual contact but not intercourse.
He also acknowledged he never told detectives he ejaculated during his encounter with the girl. He says it was "embarrassing."
The defense rested after cross-examination. Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday.
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2:30 p.m.
A former student at a New Hampshire prep school accused of raping an underclassman days before he graduated says he asked the girl whether she was taking birth control pills to give himself "peace of mind."
Nineteen-year-old Owen Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont, testified Wednesday that the two didn't have intercourse but that he was concerned some sperm might have gotten on her underwear as their encounter escalated.
Prosecutors say Labrie raped the then-15-year-old freshman last year as part of Senior Salute, a tradition at St. Paul's School in which graduating seniors seek to romance or have sex with younger students before they leave campus.
Labrie says he told other students he had sex with the girl to make himself look better.
Labrie is the first defense witness in the case.
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1:20 p.m.
A former student at a New Hampshire prep school accused of raping an underclassman as part of a tradition called Senior Salute says it was his decision to stop their escalating sexual contact.
Nineteen-year-old Owen Labrie is charged with multiple felonies related to his encounter with a 15-year-old freshman last year at St. Paul's School in Concord.
Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont, testified Wednesday that the girl never indicated she was in pain or uncomfortable with the contact.
Prosecutors say he raped the girl two days before he graduated as part of a school tradition in which seniors seek to romance and have sex with younger students.
Labrie reiterated his defense Wednesday that the two never had intercourse.
He is being interviewed by his lawyer and hasn't yet been cross-examined.
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11:25 a.m.
An underclassman who says a senior at their elite New Hampshire prep school raped her two days before he graduated has left the courtroom in tears as he began reading from emails they exchanged just before their encounter.
Owen Labrie, now 19, took the stand Wednesday as the defense's first witness.
Labrie read from emails and Facebook messages projected on a screen. In one, the then-15-year-old freshman says his plan to meet "sounds perfect."
Prosecutors say Labrie raped the girl at a campus building last year before graduating from St. Paul's School.
Prosecutors say it was connected to a school tradition called Senior Salute in which seniors try to romance and have intercourse with underclassman before graduation.
Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont, says they had consensual sexual contact but not intercourse.
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10:30 a.m.
A former student accused of raping a freshman two days before he graduated from an elite New Hampshire prep school says his relationship with his accuser was "flirty."
Nineteen-year-old Owen Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont, was the first witness as the defense case opened Wednesday.
Labrie testified that he sent the 15-year-old freshman an email inviting her to a Senior Salute because he wanted to ask her out.
Prosecutors say the Senior Salute is a school tradition in which graduating seniors seek to romance and have intercourse with younger students before leaving campus.
His accuser testified that he forced himself on her after she said "no," and she "froze."
Labrie told jurors his plans to attend Harvard and become a minister are on hold.
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9:50 a.m.
A judge overseeing the trial of a recent graduate of a prestigious New Hampshire prep school charged with raping a freshman last year as part of a tradition known as Senior Salute has questioned each juror about the media coverage in the case.
Superior Court Judge Larry Smukler opened court Wednesday by noting the huge media presence in the courtroom. Nineteen-year-old Owen Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont, is charged with multiple felonies for his encounter with the 15-year-old girl two days before he graduated from St. Paul's School in Concord.
The judge then called each juror up to the bench to ask whether he or she had been exposed — "inadvertently or otherwise" — to the media coverage.
The questioning lasted more than 10 minutes. None of the jurors was dismissed.
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9:25 a.m.
A former student at a prestigious New Hampshire prep school who is accused of raping a freshman as part of a campus tradition of sexual conquest is expected to be the first witness of the day.
Nineteen-year-old Owen Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont, entered the courtroom Wednesday and sat at the defense table. His accuser is seated in the front row with her parents behind the prosecution table.
Prosecutors say Labrie was 18 and two days away from graduating from St. Paul's School last year when he raped the 15-year-old girl as part of Senior Salute, a tradition in which seniors try to "Score" with underclassmen.
Labrie contends the two had consensual sexual contact but did not have intercourse.
The girl has already taken the stand.
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9 a.m.
A young man accused of raping a fellow student at an elite prep school in New Hampshire is set to testify in a trial that has exposed a campus tradition of sexual conquest.
Owen Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont, is charged with multiple felonies. Prosecutors say he was 18 years old and two days away from graduation last year when he raped a 15-year-old girl in a building on the grounds of St. Paul's School in Concord as part of Senior Salute, in which seniors try to "score" with underclassmen. The defense contends the two had consensual sexual contact.
Last week, Labrie's accuser testified that she twice told him "no" during their encounter and that she felt "frozen" when he became aggressive.
Labrie is expected to take the stand Wednesday.