Yes, when I said that Liefong would have cut off Mangum's finger to get her to point at three, I was referring more to the point in time when he needed this case for election purposes. He didn't expect to have to mount a campaign in the general election, but now he has to so he must continue with the same direction he's been taking this case, and that won't change until after the general election. Mangum may already have bailed on him but, short of her going directly to the media with the announcement, we would have no way of knowing about it until it suits Liefong's agenda. He must know that if he pulls the plug on the case now on his own volition, his chances of getting elected are zero.
Sure on your "cut off her finger" comment, but do you think things have changed with Nifong or Mangum?
I think one of two things is going on:
1. Mangum is being bullied by Nifong to testify. He is threatening her with charges or if she is still on probation revocation. Mangum certainly tried to make this allegation go away after it served her purpose and got her out of involuntary commitment. She refused ID anyone time after time.
2. Mangum has recalculated and decide, after her early attempts to have this allegation go away, that the situation had changed and she benefits by having it continue.
So I think if Mangum wanted to or could back out of this allegation, she would have by now. She either is being compelled by Nifong to continue or she now sees it as benefiting her. I don't see any prospects that that will change short of Nifong losing office.