Rape trial for 1 former Vanderbilt player to start Monday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A judge in Nashville has ordered that the trial of a former Vanderbilt University football player accused of rape will begin as planned on Monday.

Lawyers for Cory Batey wanted the trial to be postponed after his case was separated from another former Vanderbilt player, Brandon Vandenburg. The men were tried together earlier, but a judge declared a mistrial because a juror failed to disclose he had been a victim of statutory rape.

Judge Monte Watkins said Tuesday that jury selection would begin Wednesday with Batey’s trial starting Monday. Jurors will be selected in Chattanooga and sequestered in Nashville.

Vandenburg’s trial was postponed due to a medical condition of one of his lawyers.

The men and two others have pleaded not guilty to raping an unconscious student in 2013.