College football star faces 15 years for ‘serving up drunk student to rapists’

A former college football player has been found guilty of encouraging his teammates to rape an unconscious woman he had been dating. Brandon Vandenburg faces at least 15 years in prison after jurors took just over four hours to convict him of plying a woman with alcohol before he “served her up to three strangers”. He was found guilty of five counts of aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated sexual battery, and one count of unlawful photography. His mother cried as the verdict was read and he, too, appeared to be crying as he was taken away.

He served her up to three strangers — for whatever reason, it doesn’t matter, is that he did it,

Assistant District Attorney Jan Norman

The attack - the latest to fuel the debate surrounding sexual assaults in America’s colleges and the conduct of student athletes - happened in a dorm room at Vanderbilt University in June 2013. Prosecutors said the 23-year-old handed out condoms to the other players, recorded the rape and sent footage to friends as it was happening. The trial featured graphic videos and photos that were taken from the players’ mobile phones. The victim, then a 21-year-old neuroscience student, said she had no memory of the event. Vandenburg’s defence argued that he was drunk and should not be held responsible for what players he didn’t even know did to the woman.

She is one of the strongest people that I know. She has incredible courage. She is just an amazing, intelligent young woman

Mr Norman praises the victim

brandon vandenburg