I wonder how unusual it is for an indictment to be brought down without ever having SPOKEN to ANY of the accused.
I never saw it happen in the 32 years I was on the job.
From the legal talking heads I have heard...including several prosecutors...it is pretty strange. Much more usual to speak with the suspect/accused. And in this case his attorney was practically beating the door down with exculpatory evidence as well as wanting his client to sit down with Nifong, but they were totally rebuffed.
I've stated earlier, a (NORMAL) investigator WANTS to pin down everyone - suspects - witnesses etc, very early in the game.
It was my experience that guilty guys asked for an attorney while innocent ones were saying "bring on the box", referring to the polygraph.
There was a case in California, which is not applicable to NC, but you'll see the thinking behind it, where an investigator, via a couple of simple phone calls, could have established a defendant's innocence. He failed to do so and the jury allowed $10,000 from his personal funds plus beau coup from his employer.
In Cali, cities have the option or not of paying personal judgments for officers who screw up.