Lawyer says she failed prep school grad at sex assault trial
CONCORD, N.H. — A judge determining whether a New Hampshire prep school graduate received effective counsel during his sexual assault trial heard conflicting testimony Wednesday about whether defence lawyers were derailing the case or making reasonable strategic decisions.
Owen Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vermont, was acquitted in 2015 of raping a 15-year-old classmate the previous year as part of Senior Salute, a game of sexual conquest at St. Paul’s School in Concord. Eighteen at the time of his arrest, he was convicted of misdemeanour sexual assault and child endangerment and was sentenced to a year in jail. A conviction on a felony computer charge requires him to register as a sex offender for life.
Labrie, now 21, is free while he appeals his conviction and seeks a new trial. His appeal to the state Supreme Court is on hold while a Merrimack County Superior Court judge considers his request for a new trial based on ineffective counsel. A hearing on that matter began Tuesday and continued Wednesday.
Jaye Rancourt, who served as local counsel to Labrie’s out-of-state defence team, said during cross-examination Wednesday that she was virtually shut out of the case.