ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, February 18, 1997             TAG: 9702180092
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 

ELSEWHERE

Putting up a defense

Defense attorneys for two Virginia Tech football players arrested on rape charges have taken the unusual step of contacting 32 people as potential witnesses in a preliminary hearing, which will be held Thursday in Blacksburg. A judge then will decide if there is probable cause to certify charges to the grand jury. Normally defense witnesses are not called during a preliminary hearing, but the defense says it plans to call about 17 witnesses. The state listed five people it might call. For more information, see today's Virginia section.

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