While Hughes did not take the stand in his own defense, jurors watched the video of the detective interrogating him. Hughes was slurring his words and demonstrably confused at points.

The detective left the room while Hughes called his father, but the cameras still rolled. Hughes insisted nothing sexual happened, and he gave the same account he would later give the detective.

Hughes eventually acknowledged cuddling and demonstrating interest in his bedmate. He said they never talked and the lights were off. He could not say whether the person was or was not wearing underwear.

It was only at the end of the interrogation that Hughes was told the girl’s age. In obvious shock, he buried his head in his hands and started blurting out questions.

When the retired detective, Jeff Brinkley, took the stand, Rosenblum quizzed him on the supposed admissions that he ascribed to Hughes in the police report.

For many long, tense minutes, Brinkley tried to find those words in a transcript of the interview. He couldn’t.

He was left trying to explain how he relied on Hughes’ nonverbal gestures and nodding to what he himself suggested might have happened.