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Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Defense attorney Walter Madison explains why he withdrew his motion to have the rape trial of his client closed to the public, after a hearing at Jefferson County Juvenile Court in Steubenville, Ohio. (AP Photo/Andrew Welsh-Huggins, File)

Two high school football players go on trial this coming week on charges of raping a nearly passed-out-drunk 16-year-old girl during a night of partying in Steubenville. Around the football-powerhouse city, some are demanding to know why at least three other teens aren't facing charges, too.

After the athletes' arrest last summer, one of the many rumours that swirled around town proved all too true: Three boys, two of them members of Steubenville High's celebrated Big Red team, saw something happening that night and didn't try to stop it.

Instead, two pulled out their cellphones and took video and a photo.

The allegations shocked and roiled the city of 18,000, but prosecutors brought no charges against the witnesses, fueling months of furious online accusations of a coverup to protect the team, something law enforcement authorities have vehemently denied.