Posted on 04/09/2006 5:16:52 PM PDT by wagglebee
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Time-stamped photographs will show an exotic dancer was already injured and "very impaired" when she arrived at a party where she claims she was raped by members of Duke University's men's lacrosse team, an attorney for one of the players said Sunday.
Durham attorney Bill Thomas said some of the photographs, taken when she arrived at the house, indicate the woman was injured before getting to the party March 13. They show extensive bruises and scrapes on her legs, especially around the knees, he said.
"This young lady was substantially impaired. She had fallen several times during the course of the evening," Thomas said.
He declined to identify the player he represents and said he would not release the photos, taken by at least two cameras, until pending DNA tests are completed.
He also wouldn't say whether the photos were taken by a lacrosse team member or someone else; court documents have indicated that only team members were present at the party.
No one has been charged in the case, but the allegations that members of the nearly all-white team raped the woman, a black student at a nearby university, have rocked both Duke and Durham.
The allegations have led to the resignation of coach Mike Pressler, the cancellation of the lacrosse season and the suspension of one player from school.
Several dozen people gathered Sunday outside the house where the party took place, and pledged to return each Sunday until the case is resolved.
"Whether I want to believe it, or whether you want to believe it, something took place in there," said Johnny Williamson, 36, of Durham. "Something indecent took place."
District Attorney Mike Nifong, who was expected to return this week from an out-of-town conference and has not commented on the case in the past several days, has said previously he is confident a rape occurred. Court documents said a medical exam of the alleged victim found injuries consistent with sexual assault.
The victim has not returned repeated messages seeking comment, but her father said Sunday she hasn't changed her story.
"I expect them to say that," he said of the lawyers' contentions his daughter is lying.
The woman and the other dancer arrived separately, Thomas said, and performed briefly before leaving. The victim told police she and the other dancer left because they feared for their safety, but were later convinced to come back inside.
Thomas said the photos contradict the alleged victim's assertion she was scared, as they show her standing at the door of the off-campus house with "a major grin on her face" as she tried to get back inside.
"People inside the house have stated she was banging on the door, attempting to regain entry," Thomas said.
The woman told police she was pulled into a bathroom and assaulted after coming back into the house. But Thomas said the woman locked herself in the bathroom, where police later found her purse, cell phone, and several artificial fingernails she claimed to have lost during a struggle with her attackers.
Thomas said one of the attorneys representing team members had interviewed the other dancer extensively, and she said the alleged victim never told her about a rape.
"All of these statements you've heard ... about this brutal assault, rape, kidnapping and robbery which occurred, I believe that the public will soon be able to learn the truth, and that these allegations are totally false and without merit," Thomas said.
Both the team's captains and attorneys for team members have said the DNA tests, which may be completed this week, will prove the allegation are false. The players' attorneys also have raised other questions about the allegations, saying e-mails written in the hours after the alleged attack will help prove the players' claims that nothing happened that night.
Attorneys also have raised suspicions about a 911 call, made shortly after the alleged attack would have occurred, from a black woman who claimed someone at the party shouted racial slurs at her and a friend. The caller alternatively told police the pair were driving and walking past the house. Thomas said Sunday he and other attorneys believe the second dancer at the party made the call.
"These young men have been absolutely vilified in the press," Thomas said. "I think this week we will go a long ways toward clearing these young men's names. I can assure you that this has been a nightmare for each and every one of them."
Duke lacrosse ping.
Really? What kind of payoff do women typically get after falsely accusing college students of rape?
I don't know what happened that night, and neither do you. But I think automatically assuming the alleged victim could gain from this accusation is pretty silly.
This was a party attended entirely by Duke students and it was held in a house owned by the university, so yes I can easily see this woman falsely crying rape in hopes of a pay-off. She may not have though it all the way through, and she may realize that she is in over her head, but that doesn't mean that her initial motivation wasn't money.
This is starting to look a lot like the Kobe Bryant situation to me.
At least two cameras now taking photos - that is a new fact.
I think it will turn out for these students that they were very, very fortunate that some of them were taking photos of the the event.
A friend of mine is at Duke and told me the same thing yesterday. The DA is up for re-election and could he be trying to re-elected ?? HMM !! The e-mail written by the Lax player was idiotic, but my God, how many stupid things at 19 years old have we done that would horrify you if the press got hold of it. I heard there were many e-mails which were written after the alleged rape which made no mention of anything bad that went on. Does the DA or press say anything ?? of course not. This does not mean there was no rape, but the press starts out with a story and find the facts to make that happen.
One other point that does not involve a payoff is the woman may have mental problems. I ma not saying she does and lets wait and see, but something sure doesn't seem to fit here.
The only major difference being that Kobe probably really did rape that girl (DNA, bruises and all that kind of stuff), whereas this "exotic dancer" (a/k/a call girl) is a Tawana Brawley wannabe. I doubt that these affluent kids left their DNA in a hooker....stds are something to be avoided. Note the difference in media coverage in the two cases. Kobe's accuser was immediately subjected to the "nuts and sluts" defense...."why was she in his room, etc.". The present accuser is a prostitute and yet the media gives her a bye. It is a double standard based upon race.
They get a huge payoff. First the criminal case and then they all be sued civilly. The woman in the Kobe Bryant case got a settlement before the Civil case.
Duke would also be sued. Hell, she could sue the Escort service for sending her into a dangerous situation (without workman's comp).
She did Car-Jack a car in the past from a guy she was dancing for and then she tried to run over a policemen after she led them on a chase through 2 counties. We're not talking Mary Poppins here.
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Just an observation. The article states..."Time-stamped photographs will show an exotic dancer was already injured and "very impaired"...."
How does a "very impaired" person remember to leave evidence behind such as: "...where police later found her purse, cell phone, and several artificial fingernails she claimed to have lost during a struggle with her attackers."
Seems she was not so impaired as to be sly enough to leave evidence behind.
So was she 'very impaired'?
Or is she telling the truth?
Exactly!! I made that very point the media put on guests that immediatly brought out dirt on the 18 yr old girl in the Kobe Bryant thing. Then outlets picked it up and reported it.
I was told by a good source this week that Nancy Grace and Dan Abrams will not let their guests "go down the road." Now, they are saying it's blaming the victim.. If you make that statement, then you've already bought into the fact she's a victim and are furhter perpetuating the condemnation and indictment of these players, absent any charges pending.
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I never said she was Mary Poppins... but from what we know now, there's plenty of evidence to indicate she was assaulted.
To say that she's just doing it for some prospective payoff is silly. Do you REALLY think a woman would make up this story and plant the evidence just to sue some college kids? That's nuts.
what this can't be true! These (white) players have already been found guilty in the court of public opinion!
"Whether I want to believe it, or whether you want to believe it, something took place in there," said Johnny Williamson, 36, of Durham. "Something indecent took place."
Wherever that woman went, something indecent was going to take place. That's how she makes her living.
I don't think Johnny was a student at the Duke School of Medicine.
You must not have been around for the Tawana Brawley incident....ruined a few folks careers based upon this same sort of BS. The media bought into it and "the reverend" Al Sharpton made a name for himself...all over something that did not happen. So I don't think that OakOak is "nuts" to wonder about the motives of this young prostitute with a criminal history.
On Fox News yesterday, they had a segment called "Kendall's Corner", which had 3 former attorneys on discussing this (all female). One of them actually said (paraphrased) that the poor girl was just trying to make a living, and we shouldn't judge her character based on her job as an exotic dancer; I believe they also pointed out that she was just trying to earn money to raise her 2 children.
Oh, I forgot to add the part about when they were discussing her previous car jacking; they said "she was just joy riding". (I believe it was Lis Weihl that made these statements; surprise, surprise).
Maybe you don't know about the latest developments. The dancers left together.. After LEAVING they place a 911 call and one says it's really not an emergency and I'm not hurt in any way - they were reporting a racial slur. But with the neighbors statement and the 2 minute police response, they've established the call was made by these 2 women.
So, who would drive 2.5 miles and ask a Supermarket security guard to call 911 when you have a Cell Phone on you. And, why did they block their information from the 911 operator? Why didn't we hear the injured woman make a peep in the backround on that first call.
So, with all the holes and then her criminal record, anyone would be crazy to believe this woman. It took her 31 hours to tell her story to the police for the FIRST TIME. Yet, her Father said she went out for the day with her boyfriend.
I'm thinking she was desperate for money - maybe due to an addiction. She didn't go to the Duke party until Midnight, so she probably had a client before that (this is her only job). If that client caught her trying to rip him off (steal something, remember her history) then that person or person(s) could have inflicted the harm to this woman.
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No I think she took their money and did'nt strip for more then a few minutes. They objected, asked for their money back, she ran. They called her names. She and her fellow stripper decided to fix them 'rich white boys' real good.
The fact they was'nt together enough to keep their story straight fits. Did the cops even question the women seperatly?
The Media has made her out to be Mother Teresa and, at the same time, have convinced people the team is a roving bunch of sex offenders.
Yet, the lacrosse team has the highest graduation rate of any team at Duke.
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