3 men to stand trial in Badger running back attack

Listen to this article

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Three University of Wisconsin-Madison students accused of assaulting Wisconsin running back Montee Ball have been ordered to stand trial.

The attack left the Heisman Trophy finalist unconscious and with a concussion after the early-morning attack near campus Aug. 1.

On Tuesday, 21-year-old Wendell Venerable, 21-year-old Deonte Wilson and 22-year-old Robert Wilks pleaded not guilty to substantial battery.

The Wisconsin State Journal reported that Detective David Gouran testified at Tuesday’s preliminary hearing that some witnesses said they heard at least one of the attackers say, “We got nine football players to go.”

Venerable’s lawyer, Brian Hough, filed a motion after the hearing seeking to suppress the identification of Venerable a suspect. He questioned whether police follower proper procedure when they showed video and images of the fight to witnesses.

Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, http://www.madison.com/wsj