Based on what you know, do you think a rape occured at the Duke lacrosse party?
Posted on 04/22/2006 2:45:35 AM PDT by abb
Defense lawyers and legal experts say District Attorney Mike Nifong may have crossed ethical lines in public comments about rape allegations involving Duke University lacrosse players, potentially prejudicing jurors and setting off a media maelstrom.
Nifong says that he has done nothing wrong, though he has ceased talking with reporters about allegations made by an escort service dancer hired to perform at a March 13 team party. He would speak only about his handling of the case Friday.
"In terms of what I said, no, I wouldn't say I regret anything I've said," Nifong said. "I think what I have learned, basically, is that if you cooperate with the media out of a sense of duty to public truth, you make yourself a victim."
Local observers were hard-pressed this week to remember a case with so much back-and-forth between the prosecution and defense playing out in a 24-hour news cycle. It has some suggesting a judge should step in with a gag order.
Defense attorneys for the lacrosse players say it is their clients who have been victimized by Nifong, and they blunt criticism of their own extensive public comments by saying they are just attempting to limit the damage. Some also said photos, ATM receipts and other evidence they claim exonerates the two team members arrested Tuesday were given to the media only after Nifong refused to look at them.
In its ethical rules, the N.C. State Bar orders lawyers to refrain from statements outside the courtroom that they know might have "a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing" legal proceedings. But once one side talks to the press, ethics rules say the other side can make statements "a reasonable lawyer" would believe are required to protect a client from bad publicity.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsobserver.com ...
"BTW, why does a grocery store need a security guard??? Yikes."
Oh, some scum like robbers, rapists, and petty thieves like to target stores, and their clerks, without security at night.
No room. The missing white high heel has a battery in it.
Poor victim Nifong. I think we should organize a "victim Nifong" drive, and send him lots of flowers, hankies, and panties.
Oh my, just the thought!
LOL!
This is the guy that the press was telling us was a "serious, straight-shooter" a few weeks ago. Another lie. No way a "straight-shooter" could have dug the hole this guy dug for himself.
Just another Democrat victimhood-culture politician. Another useless twit.
Quote of the day! Ms. Kim is the most despicable of the whole mess..I've really felt from the start that she might have put Crystal up to the whole farce..It all started with her stupid 911 call with the fake crying. I also think Nifong is just incompetent. Who is our chatter (with justice in his nic)that said "no way" the ID could have been screwed up--no PD could do that?
And from one newbie to another: Welcome Dukie07! If you haven't already, you should do a search on "Duke" There have been some great threads here for the past couple of weeks. I've learned so much..WAAAAY ahead of the media.
So far Syracuse doesn't want them, and rumor has it UVA has said no thanks.
I have a question about the line-up. Supposedly the IDs were made on April 4, but does that necessarily mean both were made then? Nifong hinted at the NCCU forum on Apr. 11 that only one person had been ID'd.
On April 5 in the New York Times and on April 6 in the News and Observer, stories outlining Finnerty's "assault" conviction last fall appeared. The N&O helpfully provided pictures and names of all the players in its Sunday, Apr. 2, front section.
Is it possible that only Seligmann was ID'd on the 4th, and Finnerty was ID'd sometime after April 11, by the accuser specifically looking for his picture after learning of his legal woes?
15 players had prior charges
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/422787.html
March 28th; plenty of time.
Other dancer at Duke party speaks out
Roberts (Kim) is bracing for an all-out attack, but said she's almost past caring.
"Don't forget that they called me a damn nigger," 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."
Let's send him some cheap white stripper shoes. He continues to look for them. (Joke recycled from earlier thread).
I agree with you that Duke should do all it can to help the players. And we don't know that that is not happening. Honestly, I wouldn't want to go to a school (or work for a company, for that matter- to those whose job offers were rescinded) that was so, I'm not sure what word I want to use here, anal? I mean, aren't they just as bad as everyone who immediately pronounced the entire team guilty?
Re: current mood on campus - "Everyone just wants it to be over."
I didn't see Finnerty mentioned in that link. That's why I wonder if she didn't ID him until the other articles on him in particular appeared April 5 and 6. Nifong imo definitely hinted at only one ID at the NCCU forum.
The DNA results had just come in the day before that forum, and Nifong was under tremendous pressure. I wonder if he went to the false accuser after NCCU and said she needed to make other IDs or the case couldn't go forward? And Finnerty, the known "assaulter," fit the bill.
I'm still in shock that Nifong is calling himself a "victim."
Well, I hadn't read it yet and it's a good one! LOL
"Hey!" LB :)
And thanks to all for the welcomes. As I said, I have been following all your threads for days. Good stuff.
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