Another Hearing in Duke Rape Case
AP
(10/27/06 - DURHAM) - The district attorney prosecuting three Duke lacrosse players accused of rape said during a court hearing Friday that he still hasn't interviewed the accuser about the facts of the case.
"I've had conversations with (the accuser) about how she's doing. I've had conversations with (the accuser) about her seeing her kids," District Attorney Mike Nifong said. "I haven't talked with her about the facts of that night. ...We're not at that stage yet."
Defense lawyers said outside of court that they found Nifong's admission surprising.
"One of the most interesting things to me of course is Mr. Nifong did admit that he in fact has basically never talked to this woman and has absolutely no idea what her story is, and yet he has chosen to continue to go forward with this case," said defense lawyer Joseph Cheshire.
Nifong made the statement in response to a defense request for any statements the woman had made to him about the case.
"I can only tell you what happened," the prosecutor said after the hourlong hearing. "I understand the answer may not be the answer they want but it's the true answer. That's all I can give them."
Cheshire and Brad Bannon, attorneys for indicted player Dave Evans, wrote in a letter to Nifong earlier this month that they believed he had talked with the accuser based on a court motion in which the prosecutor stated the woman told him she had not taken the drug Ecstasy on the night of a March 13 team party where she was hired to perform as a stripper.
"This is another false issue to make it look like I call her up everyday and say, 'Tell me more about the case,"' Nifong said.
In response to a claim by a lawyer for an unindicted player, Nifong said he called the accuser to ask her whether she had used the drug.
"She said, 'I've never taken Ecstasy,"' Nifong said. "That was the extent of the conversation because that's all I had to know."
Nifong said he met with the accuser and an investigator on April 11, but didn't discuss details of the case because the woman was "too traumatized." Nifong said the woman didn't make eye contact with him and often seemed on the verge of crying. Their discussion centered around how the case would develop, he said.
"She probably did not speak 15 words during the meeting," Nifong said.
Defense lawyers said they still wanted copies of any statements that the accuser may have made to Nifong or any of his assistants about the case.
"She has spoken to him and we know that," Bannon said.
The next court hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 15. Defense lawyers said they may be ready by then to ask the court to schedule a trial date.
From ABC11 site.
They didn't talk about the case. She was too traumatized. Yes, she was screaming and yelling....because Nifong is white. Later that day, she was writhing around a may pole at some club....which I'm sure is "blacks only"??
"I've had conversations with (the accuser) about her seeing her kids," District Attorney Mike Nifong said."
This is a fascinating statement. Think about it.