Long-awaited Torrey Green rape trial begins

Torrey Green, center, talks to his lawyers Skye Lazaro, left, and private investigator E. Christian Warmsley during his rape trial, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019 in Brigham City, Utah. Green is accused of raping multiple women while he was a football player at Utah State University. (Eli Lucero/court pool via AP)

BRIGHAM CITY — The three-week trial for Torrey Green began Monday morning with opening statements from both sides. The 25-year-old former Utah State football player is charged with raping or sexually assaulting six women while a student.

Prosecutors described Green as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” taking advantage of each woman during their first dates together between November 2013 and August 2015. Meanwhile, the defense argued that the sex was consensual, and the victims didn’t report the allegations until Green signed a football contract with the NFL.

Prosecuting attorney Barbara Lachmar gives her opening statement during Torrey Green’s rape trial, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019 in Brigham City, Utah. (Eli Lucero/court pool via AP)

State attorney Barbara Lachmar spoke for over an hour, showing pictures of each of the alleged victims and explaining how they first came in contact with Green. Five of the six women met him on Tinder, a social media dating app. The other woman met the defendant while walking out of the Taggart Student Center at USU. They all claimed that he was good looking and seemed charming.

Lachmar told the jury that through the trial they will hear from each victim, as she described in graphic detail how the women claimed they were raped by Green. She explained how the women were groped, had their clothes taken off, and forced to have sex, as they repeatedly resisted and told the defendant no.

One of the women claimed she was able to keep Green from raping her by asking the defendant what his mother would think, as he was sexually assaulting her. That comment allegedly caused Green to respond, “you aren’t worth it,” and took her back to her apartment.

Lachmar explained even though the women’s stories sound similar, they have never met each other. She said the tragic part is the defendant had special god given talents that he used to entice the victims and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Defense attorney Skye Lazaro questions a witness during Torrey Green’s rape trial, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019 in Brigham City, Utah. (Eli Lucero/court pool via AP)

Defense attorney Skye Lazaro told the jury, rape is a crime that no one should tolerate. She said when the jury hears Green testify, he will say that he doesn’t tolerate it either. She explained that her client hooked up with a lot of girls while at USU but it was always consensual. She claimed the six women reported being raped because they were upset about not getting a second date with her client.

Lazaro told the court how Green graduated from high school and was a gifted athlete, who received a scholarship to play for the Aggies. She said none of the allegations were made until after he had signed a contract with the Atlanta Falcons. She asked the jury to assess the credibility of the women’s testimony.

Green is being held in the Cache County jail without bail. He has been incarcerated since his arrest in October 2016.

The trial is being held in Brigham City after Judge Cannell ordered the change of venue, saying that Green may not receive a fair trial in Cache County because of the recent sex assault allegations at USU. It is scheduled to run through January 25 but could finish early.


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