Posted on 04/21/2006 12:56:01 AM PDT by OakOak
Edited on 04/21/2006 2:52:00 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
At first, a stripper who performed at a Duke University lacrosse team party doubted the story of a colleague who told police she was dragged into a bathroom and raped.
Now, Kim Roberts isn't so sure.
"I was not in the bathroom when it happened, so I can't say a rape occurred - and I never will," Roberts told The Associated Press Thursday in her first on-the-record interview. But after watching defense attorneys release photos of the accuser, and upset by the leaking of both dancers' criminal pasts, she said she has to "wonder about their character."
"In all honesty, I think they're guilty," she said. "And I can't say which ones are guilty ... but somebody did something besides underage drinking. That's my honest-to-God impression."
Attorneys for the 46 players have aggressively proclaimed the players' innocence, citing DNA tests during a public campaign that has included describing and releasing photos from the party.
Those photos, the defense maintains, show the accuser was both injured and impaired when she arrived, and also support the claim that one of the two players who has been indicted would not have had enough time to participate in any assault before he left the party. The district attorney has said he also hopes to charge a third suspect in the case.
The attorneys claim Roberts at first told a member of the defense team that she did not believe the accuser's allegations. They say she has changed her story to gain favorable treatment in a criminal case against her. They note she also e-mailed a New York public relations firm, asking in her letter for advice on "how to spin this to my advantage."
"We believe ... her story has been motivated by her own self-interest," said attorney Bill Thomas, who represents one of the uncharged players. "I think that a jury will ultimately have to decide the question of her credibility."
Roberts, 31, was arrested on March 22 - eight days after the party - on a probation violation from a 2001 conviction for embezzling $25,000 from a photofinishing company in Durham where she was a payroll specialist, according to documents obtained by the AP.
On Monday, the same day a grand jury indicted lacrosse players Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty, a judge agreed to a change so that Roberts would no longer have to pay a 15 percent fee to a bonding agent. District Attorney Mike Nifong signed a document saying he would not oppose the change.
"It seems she is receiving very favorable financial treatment for what she is now saying," Thomas said.
Mark Simeon, Roberts' attorney, said the bond conditions were changed because Roberts is not considered a flight risk. Nifong, who hasn't spoken with reporters about the case in weeks, didn't return a call seeking comment.
Roberts' testimony could be vital during any trial of the two sophomores, indicted on charges of first-degree rape, sexual offense and kidnapping.
Other than lacrosse players and the accuser, a 27-year-old student at a nearby university, Roberts is believed to be the only other person at the March 13 party.
Roberts said Thursday she does not remember Seligmann's face, but said she recalls seeing Finnerty - whom she described as the "little skinny one."
"I was looking him right in the eyes," she said.
Although she would not talk extensively about the party, she confirmed some of what the other dancer told police - including that the women initially left the party after one of the players threatened to sodomize the women with a broomstick.
The players' attorneys have said their clients were angry and demanded a refund when the women stopped dancing, but Roberts disputed that.
"They ripped themselves off when they started hollering about a broomstick," she said.
The accuser told police that the women were coaxed back into the house with an apology, at which point they were separated. That's when she said she was dragged into a bathroom and raped, beaten and choked for a half hour.
Later, police received a 911 call from a woman complaining that she had been called racial slurs by white men gathered outside the home where the party took place. The defense has said it believes the second dancer at the party made that call.
Roberts then drove the accuser - whom she reportedly had just met that night - to a grocery store and asked a security guard to call 911. The accuser was described later by a police officer as "just passed-out drunk."
The defense timeline is backed up by a cab driver who said Seligmann called for a ride at 12:14 a.m., and was picked up five minutes later. The defense argues that if the dancers were performing around midnight, Seligmann would not have had enough time to participate in the 30-minute assault described by the accuser.
The cabbie, Moez Mostafa, also said he saw a woman leaving the party in anger, and overheard someone say, "She just a stripper. She's going to call the police."
"She looked, like, mad," he said of the woman. "In her face, the way she walked, the way she talked, she looked like mad."
On Thursday, authorities released warrants detailing their search earlier this week of Finnerty's dorm room. Seized during the search were a newspaper article and an envelope addressed to Finnerty.
Also Thursday, 5W Public Relations, a New York firm that specializes in "crisis communication," distributed an e-mail signed "The 2nd Dancer," and Roberts confirmed she sent it after learning the AP knew her identity.
"I've found myself in the center of one of the biggest stories in the country," she wrote. "I'm worried about letting this opportunity pass me by without making the best of it and was wondering if you had any advice as to how to spin this to my advantage."
Ronn Torossian, 5W's president, said he replied, but got no response.
"If this person is indeed who they say they are, I would be happy to speak with her," said Torossian, whose firm has represented the likes of Sean "Diddy" Combs, Ice Cube and Lil' Kim.
Roberts, like the accuser a divorced single mother who is black, took umbrage at the notion that she should not try to make something out of her experience. She's worried that once her name and criminal record are public, no one will want to hire her.
"Why shouldn't I profit from it?" she asked. "I didn't ask to be in this position ... I would like to feed my daughter."
Roberts is bracing for an all-out attack, but said she's almost past caring.
"Don't forget that they called me a damn n####," she said. "She (the accuser) was passed out in the car. She doesn't know what she was called. I was called that. I can never forget that."
Roberts, 31, was arrested on March 22 - eight days after the party - on a probation violation from a 2001 conviction for embezzling $25,000 from a photofinishing company in Durham where she was a payroll specialist, according to documents obtained by the AP.
That's what I initially thought. And then I learned about the Dream Team "Project Innocence".
Thanks for the ping and good work!!!!!! ;)
well....I was a long time lurker!! ROFL
The media did a more extensive investigation on the peanut that President Bush choked on, then they have the women , their backgrounds and their employers.
Has it been determined whether they were sent by an Escort Service or an Entertainment Service ?
I don't recall reading anything about music .
I would assume that legitimate " exotic dancers " would bring a boom box because they would have a choreographed routine set to their own music.
With all due respect, I think you are over-analyzing what a couple of 19/20 year old college boys may or may not have said while exchanging insults with someone they think RIPPED THEM OFF! And were probably a little snockered on top of it.
Really, this was a beer/stripper party--not a KKK rally. Are you as concerned about racial comments the strippers may have made to the boys as well?
How on earth does this go to MOTIVE?
Having some familiarity with one of the accused's families, I'm not sure the defense attorney could have kept them quiet--I'm not sure. It seems the Finnerty's attorney is playing things with more patience.
Howlin, did you say (or was it someone else) that some of the families weren't too happy that so much of the defense was being aired?
I have a theory; Finnerty's lawyer is really quiet about whether or not he was there. Kim swears she looked him right in the eye. I read they searched his room for video. You know there is video out there, hopefully in the safe deposit box of the defense. Knowing boys, they probably started the video when the drinking started. While one filmed another walked around doing ESPN like interviews. I bet it shows Finnerty makin some wise crack about nasty ho's and walks out the door. Just a theory. I mean I can make stuff up, the prosecution's done it.
Yep.
No, I heard a reporter on a local channel say some of the defense team isn't happy with all the information being released.
and IF there weren't timestamped photos
and IF they haven't found any DNA evidence at this point
and IF these chicks weren't "in the business"
and IF they didn't lie
and IF they didn't have a prior record
I'd probably consider that the boys might have raped her.
And IF I were the DA, I'd be updating my resume.
Good point. Early on, an associate professor in the Duke Black Studies Department named Anthony Neal said the black community would react more violently to the racial slur than to the rape. I was doubtful then, but no more.
LOL
I'd love to see that tape!
All I've seen or heard about Finnerty was that he was at a Mexican food place and has 6 witnesses and a receipt.
Election day is early May. My guess is if his case collapses before that he's not going to make it.
A false allegation of rape is worse.
The slur, if it was said, gives a clue to the character of the individuals we are dealing with.
I want to know whether or not the rape allegation is false or not.
But I will cop to the fact that I have no sympathy for a bigot. If these are the kinds of individuals these kids are, I'm glad they're being humiliated. But no, I don't think they deserve prison on a false rape charge ( if untrue )
Thats just my personal bias kicking in and I admit that.
I think Nifong will pull a Punxatony Phil and hide until May 2, if possible.
What do you think the penalty should be for the racial slur, assuming no other crimes were committed?
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