As we reported last week attorneys for the seven defendants accused of gang-raping a 16 year-old female student were still claiming sex with the victim was consensual and her severe wounds were self-inflicted. Now, with yesterday's testimony from retired Richmond Police Detective Ken Greco, that defense looks to be falling apart.

According to Bay City News on the Appeal, Greco testified that one of the seven defendants told the detective he backhanded the victim across her face. Another defendant, 20 year-old Manuel Ortega, allegedly told the detective that the victim protested and screamed for help. The full report of Ortega's graphic testimony, is admittedly difficult to get through, but also details constantly changing stories from the defendants.

Ari Morales, who is 17 but being tried as an adult, allegedly gave multiple accounts of the night - first claiming "All I did was pee on her and take her ring" before later admitting to inserting a walkie-talkie antenna into the victim "out of silliness." BCN also reports that Morales later revealed to Detective Greco that he saw Ortega "kneeling on the ground trying to force the victim to give him oral sex. When she didn't do it, he allegedly started beating and 'torturing' her."

While none of this will ever be reassuring, it seems the seven defense attorneys who will be cross-examining Greco today in Superior Court in Martinez don't actually have much of a case left before the judge determines whether there is sufficient evidence to take this case to trial.

[SFAppeal]