Preliminary hearings are not hearings to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt - that's what the full trial is for. They are "probable cause" hearings, to ensure that there is enough evidence to refer the case to a trial court. In some states (Pennsylvania is one), the preliminary hearing can be used by a defendant to cause a judge to review the grand jury's work, and check that there are no irregularities. Usually, the defendant waives the preliminary hearing, because the Grand Jury indictment has already made the preliminary hearing standard of "probable cause" a fait accompli, and the chance of irregularities is very low. So, in low-profile cases, the defendant usually concludes that the large attorney expense of a preliminary hearing holds little hope of return, while in high-profile cases, the defendant usually doesn't want to attract lots of media coverage about how the defendant was found "guilty" in the preliminary hearing.
In this case, Sandusky's attorney called for the preliminary hearing, which means the prosecution had to bring all the witnesses in and have them ready to testify. Media was there in force, salivating at the spectacle about to unfold. Sandusky's attorney then cancelled at literally the last minute, and walked outside the courtroom. Reporters naturally followed him as if he were the Pied Piper, given that by his own actions he had just become the only story they would get. This gave him great control of the narrative as he worked his way through a carefully honed spin session with the captive reporters.
So, the witnesses were put through stressful circumstances for naught, by a manipulator who used their discomfiture for his client's gain. Imagine what was going through some of those kids' heads, who fully expected they would have to tell their stories.
These are evil people, who think nothing of adding to the psychological burdens these kids already bear.
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