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In an unusual legal maneuver, the state is trying the six defendants in two groups, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Reason: pretrial statements made by some of the defendants could not legally be used as evidence against them if all were tried together. Prosecutors have also substantially revised original reports that numerous bar patrons witnessed and even encouraged the rape with whoops and cheers. They say that aside from the six defendants and the victim, only three people were in the bar, and that the bartender and a customer sought to call the police, but were prevented from doing so by one of the six. Despite the bystanders' efforts, said Prosecutor Raymond Veary, "this is a story without heroes." ∎