Testimony Beginning In Trial Of 4 Charged With Kidnapping 2

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Testimony is set to begin in the trial of four people charged with kidnapping and torturing two Rochester college students during a 40-hour-long ordeal last year.

Prosecutors and the defense attorneys for the four defendants being tried simultaneously made their opening statements Wednesday in state Supreme Court. Testimony is expected to start Thursday.

Authorities say two young men enrolled in the University of Rochester were lured to a house in the city last December by a woman who contacted one of them online and wanted to meet. Prosecutors say once they students were inside the home, they were beaten and tortured while being held hostage for nearly two days.

One of the students was shot in the legs. A Rochester police SWAT team rescued the students.

Five other people have pleaded guilty for their roles in the incident.

[STORY BY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]