A Dane County, Wis., circuit court judge...
A Dane County, Wis., circuit court judge denied a motion for a separate trial for one of three former University of Minnesota basketball players accused of sexually assaulting a Madison woman.
George Williams Jr., 20, wanted to be tried separately from Mitchell Lee, 21, and Kevin Smith, 21, arguing that their testimony is essential to his defense.
Judge George Northrup said Williams failed to produce affidavits from either co-defendant indicating their willingness to waive their Fifth Amendment rights and testify.
Williams, Lee and Smith are charged with a total 12 counts of first-degree sexual assault involving a Madison woman who claims the three men repeatedly raped her Jan. 24 in a Madison hotel after a Wisconsin-Minnesota game.
The trial is scheduled for the week of July 14.
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