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Duke lacrosse files show gaps in DA's case (DukeLax - NandO FINALLY tells the story)
Raleigh News & Observer ^ | August 6, 2006 | Joseph Neff

Posted on 08/06/2006 12:27:52 AM PDT by abb

DURHAM - Investigator Michelle Soucie of the Durham Police Department was working the phones the afternoon of April 17, trying to set up DNA tests on evidence in the Duke lacrosse case. A private laboratory in Burlington gave a price, and Soucie immediately contacted District Attorney Mike Nifong.

- snip -

In examining the files Nifong has produced in the case, The News & Observer found that the accuser gave at least five different versions of the alleged assault to different police and medical interviewers and made shaky identifications of suspects. To get warrants, police made statements that weren't supported by information in their files.

- snip -

Much of the district attorney's evidence is contained in more than 1,800 pages of documents he has made available to the defense under a recent state law requiring prosecutors to open their files before trial. Those documents are only part of the evidence that could be introduced in a criminal trial. They do not include information still being gathered or testimony that might occur under oath.

But they offer the most complete picture thus far of evidence in the case that has put Durham and Duke in the national spotlight. The documents -- police notes, court orders, DNA tests, interviews and handwritten statements -- show what the prosecution has learned and how it conducted itself in State of North Carolina vs. Collin Finnerty, Reade W. Seligmann and David Forker Evans, who could face decades in prison if convicted.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsobserver.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: duke; dukelax; durham; lacrosse; newduke; nifong
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To: jennyd

Dunno the answer to that. But this possibility fits the fact that the players that Crystial identified were from the most wealthy families.


341 posted on 08/07/2006 6:49:50 AM PDT by abb (The Dinosaur Media: A One-Way Medium in a Two-Way World)
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To: abb

Thanks, abb. I emailed a request that the paper show a floorplan of the Buchanan house, and the Zash bathroom "crime scene" in particular. I bet if we could see that small space with tub/toilet/sink in place, it would show a physical impossibility that what Crystal alleged COULD have happened.


342 posted on 08/07/2006 6:52:04 AM PDT by GAgal
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To: abb
I wouldn't be surprised at all if Precious searched for rich players on her computer. I just wonder if defense was ever able to access her computer. Because last time they asked Nifong for it, Nifong seem to be unaware of its existence.
343 posted on 08/07/2006 6:53:31 AM PDT by jennyd
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To: jennyd

Well, of course the significance of all this is that instead of a false accusation hoax, this case becomes a premeditated extortion scheme. With implications to all sorts of peeps in Durham.


344 posted on 08/07/2006 6:57:46 AM PDT by abb (The Dinosaur Media: A One-Way Medium in a Two-Way World)
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To: abb

I realize the significance of it. That's why would be nice to know if defense ever got a look at her computer, and what exactly is on her computer.


345 posted on 08/07/2006 7:00:34 AM PDT by jennyd
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To: abb

"Well, of course the significance of all this is that instead of a false accusation hoax, this case becomes a premeditated extortion scheme."

I've thought that was what it was ever since I learned that the richest players were the ones being accused.

" With implications to all sorts of peeps in Durham."

Yep. All the judges. All the tie-ins to Nifong. Judge Bayly in DC, too (who willingly went along with convicting another player, when by then the DNA was in and he must have known that no rape took place--but he was still willing to help out Durham).

Time for a big house-cleaning down south.

I'm sure all the Durham powers-that-be are so happy with Nifong for bringing this case, and so hopeful that it will continue--NOT.


346 posted on 08/07/2006 7:03:39 AM PDT by CondorFlight
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To: GAgal

"and the Zash bathroom "crime scene" in particular"

Those houses on that street must all be similar. How about a photo, if not of THE bathroom, then at least of one of the same exact dimensions and layout?

And then maybe one with four people inside (or five, or twenty, or however many it was supposed to be, according to which version of the AV's story you accept).


347 posted on 08/07/2006 7:05:15 AM PDT by CondorFlight
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To: jennyd

I don't Dad has a clue either, though I do think she went to the DPD to attempt an ID.


348 posted on 08/07/2006 7:06:28 AM PDT by maggief
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To: maggief
I don't think she had her face beat up, or her let out of whack, as her dad claimed either.
Those injuries would have been noticed by medical personnel, whatever the cause of them was.
349 posted on 08/07/2006 7:08:55 AM PDT by jennyd
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To: jennyd

The trip to UNC may have been for Flexeril.

The point is she may have been roughed up, causing bruising, after her visits to medical facilities. Where was her regular driver that day, the one who's cell phone she messed up the day before? The seemed to have had quite a spat the preceding afternoon.


350 posted on 08/07/2006 7:15:52 AM PDT by maggief
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To: maggief

Lookee here. The NBPP has resurfaced.

McKinney's Black Panthers
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/blog/2006/08/mckinneys_black_panthers.html


351 posted on 08/07/2006 7:29:39 AM PDT by abb (The Dinosaur Media: A One-Way Medium in a Two-Way World)
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To: All
From the article
She wrote that she had two 22-ounce Icehouse beers before arriving at the party at 11:20 p.m.
From WRAL: Initial DNA Test Results May Not Tell Whole Story, DA Says
Nifong also spoke of reaction to the case, saying much of what has been published has been negative. He said much of that reaction is not based on fact and pointed to details of recent legal filings filed by defense attorney Kirk Osborn.

"By leaking things out like this, they can keep the case in the headlines -- see all these trucks that are still around here waiting for something to happen -- and kind of frame the case their own way," Nifong said. "And say things like, 'according to my timeline' -- which of course, they don't know what my timeline is."
We know what it is now don't we Mikey?

Since we have exhaustively documented that a 30 minute could not have occurred between 12:05ish and 12:26ish. (even less for RS) Does Mikey now think the 30 minute rape occurred between 11:20ish and 11:39ish (AV's last call B4 arriving), between 11:39ish and 11:50 (Bissey), or was it from 11:50 to 12:00 at which time she began her dance with Kim?

Did she arrive at 11:20, run to the BR, get raped, make and receive a few phone calls, run back out to the car just in time to walk in with Kim at 11:50 like nothing happened? That's some timeline Mikey.

352 posted on 08/07/2006 7:40:09 AM PDT by darbymcgill
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To: maggief
he seemed to have had quite a spat the preceding afternoon.

I agree, that whole "she asked me to pull over so she could potty and then she just started walking down the highway for no reason" story is just typical of the ka-ka we're being fed by the hip-hop culture in this disaster.

353 posted on 08/07/2006 7:46:41 AM PDT by darbymcgill
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To: darbymcgill

Ooops

30 minute could = 30 minute rape could


354 posted on 08/07/2006 7:48:59 AM PDT by darbymcgill
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To: abb; Howlin
Thanks for that link abb. I joined FR just before this case broke. It was uncanny to read a lot of the postings from before the hoax became self evident. Based on the N&O article from yesterday, Nifong is in deep stuff.

What on earth was he thinking? Tracking her whereabouts after indictments is as scary as it gets. NO investigation, a grand jury with half truths, and refusal to hear exculpatory evidence. I hope Durham throws this guy in jail.

355 posted on 08/07/2006 7:55:46 AM PDT by Neverforget01
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To: abb

Monday, August 7, 2006
Error in Duke lacrosse story Sunday

Our story Sunday detailing gaps in the prosecution's case against three Duke lacrosse players contained a significant error. The error does not alter the story's fundamental findings, but it does mean that the story's opening paragraphs were inaccurate in describing one set of circumstances.

In reviewing the notes of Durham Police Officer Michelle Soucie, we misread a date Soucie had circled on one page -- 4/17/06 -- as the date on the notes.

The notes and the conversation between Nifong and Soucie happened on April 4, 2006. That means that Nifong was not seeking evidence after the indictments, as the story indicated, but was seeking evidence as part of his investigation.

Nifong refused interview requests, and Soucie did not return calls. We did not spot the error in normal fact-checking processes and were unaware of the error until late Sunday. We have moved quickly to post a correction along with our original story -- we will not alter the original story online because that is the story we published in print and online.

The error means the lead illustration on the story does not have the significance we thought it did. We have removed the illustration from our Web site.

We apologize for this error. While it does not change the story's fundamental accuracy -- based on weeks of painstaking work -- it falls short of our standards.

We will publish a page 1 report Tuesday correcting the error for print editions and adding any response from the district attorney's office.
Posted at 11:03 am by Melanie Sill in The Editors' Blog

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/


356 posted on 08/07/2006 8:11:10 AM PDT by xoxoxox
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To: All

Isn't it odd we're over here in Chat? I would think that this topic should be in News as it was the front page of so many media outlets for so long. Just wondering.


357 posted on 08/07/2006 8:11:53 AM PDT by Neverforget01
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To: Mike Nifong

We've been complimented (along w Talk Left) on the CTV Board:

Originally posted by helloitsme

BTW, for those of you who want a more active discussion, go to:
TalkLeft Duke Forum
FreeRepublic Dukelax Threads
CW may not think the new article by the N&O is newsworthy, but TalkLeft has 11 pages, and FreeRepublic over 300 posts on it
Very few AV supporters are on FreeRepublic, but TalkLeft still has some.
The sites are never shut down-the moderators do their job rather than simply closing the site.
Until CW takes her Midol, the CTV Duke board will remain closed.



I don't even think we have had a mod make an appearance...


358 posted on 08/07/2006 8:17:31 AM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights
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To: Protect the Bill of Rights

Mike Nifong's New Look:

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

359 posted on 08/07/2006 8:26:15 AM PDT by TommyDale (It's time to dismiss the Duke fake rape case, Mr. Nifong!)
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To: xoxoxox
The notes and the conversation between Nifong and Soucie happened on April 4, 2006. That means that Nifong was not seeking evidence after the indictments, as the story indicated, but was seeking evidence as part of his investigation

So Nifong knew about CGM's pre-party activities and still indicted? I don't know which is worse?

360 posted on 08/07/2006 8:33:29 AM PDT by Neverforget01
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