US high school football stars in rape trial

Two high school American football stars go on trial on Wednesday over the alleged rape of a teenage girl, whom they are said to have sexually assaulted while their friends filmed and took pictures.

The case has raised questions about the hero status awarded to student athletes in small-town US communities.

The defendants, Trent Mays, 17, and Ma'lik Richmond, 16, are star players for the Steubenville Big Red football team, one of the leading high school teams in Ohio. The police have been accused of taking a lax approach to the investigation due to the football team's status.

The alleged assault took place last August. Mays and Richmond are said to have met the 16-year-old girl at a party. She was intoxicated and it is alleged she was assaulted after passing out. The pair were charged with rape.

Alexandria Goddard, a blogger, claimed pictures of the attack were posted online, suggesting the players thought they were above the law. The online hacking group Anonymous leaked further information pointing to the alleged involvement of other players, and questions were raised as to why they were not also arrested. The victim's mother said players were "put on a pedestal". The police denied any allegations against them.