Accuser in Duke lacrosse case wanted money, man says (DukeLax Ping)

Raleigh News & Observer ^ | November 4, 2006 | Benjamin Niolet, Joseph Neff and Anne Blythe

[abb]

Joseph Neff, Benjamin Niolet and Anne Blythe, Staff Writers DURHAM - Four days after she said she was raped, the accuser in the Duke lacrosse case told co-workers at a Hillsborough strip club that she was going to get money from some boys at a Duke party who hadn't paid her, the club's former security manager said.

"She basically said, 'I'm going to get paid by the white boys,' " H.P. Thomas, the former security manager at the Platinum Club, said in an interview Friday. "I said, 'Whatever,' because no one takes her seriously."

On March 14, the woman said she was assaulted and raped by three men at a lacrosse team party that began late on the night of March 13. Three players -- David Evans, 23, of Bethesda, Md.; Collin Finnerty, 20, of Garden City, N.Y.; and Reade Seligmann, 20, of Essex Fells N.J. -- have been charged with rape, sexual assault and kidnapping. All three have declared their innocence and called the accusations lies.

Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong declined to comment on Thomas' recollections. Thomas said he had not previously come forward on the advice of lawyers.

Nifong has said in court that nearly a month after the party, the woman was in his office and appeared too traumatized to talk about what had happened to her. Nifong said that throughout the April 11 meeting with Nifong and police investigators, the woman seemed near tears and had trouble making eye contact.

But less than a week after the party, Thomas said, the woman seemed fine, and weeks later, he realized a friend of his had a video of her dancing at the club in the early hours of March 26.

The accuser never gave any indication that the party was a bad time, let alone that she was assaulted or raped, Thomas said.

"She was as regular as pie," Thomas said. "She didn't do anything different."

The News & Observer generally does not identify the complainants in sexual assault cases. The woman could not be located for comment Friday.

On March 17, the woman showed Thomas a hospital bracelet and paperwork. While she talked about being owed money, the accuser never gave any word or indication of being hurt, he said.

"The other girls would have known if something had happened," Thomas said. "If another dancer had been beat up or raped by a bunch of white boys, there would have been a ruckus."

Records show she had been seen at Duke and UNC Hospitals on March 14 and 15.

Thomas said dancers must sign in when they take guests into the club's VIP room. He said those sheets show that the woman had signed in March 17 and 18. He said she also danced the following weekend.

The club's owner, Victor Olatoye, said the club's records show the woman was dancing at the club March 23, 24, 25 and into the early hours of March 26. Olatoye has no record of her working the previous weekend.

Olatoye said he had given a sworn statement to an investigator in Nifong's office last month initially saying that he had not seen the woman since February.

That night at the club, Olatoye checked his records and called the investigator back to change his sworn statement.

Olatoye said he has not seen the woman since March.

Thomas said he worked as security manager at the club from January through April. He said he had little to gain by coming forward because of a pending cocaine possession charge. Staff writer Joseph Neff can be reached at 829-4516 or jneff@newsobserver.com.

[Locomotive Breath]

I agree. I read at work sometime and I can't have that up on my screen.

[maggief]

Nothing found on Damon.

[TommyDale]

I just thought that was an amazing coincidence. What are the odds?

[pepperhead]

One with her as president.

http://www.couchandtaibi.com/fcouch.htm

[pepperhead]

I guess you could adblock it.

[Ready4Freddy]

Most would, and her case would get to the panel first.

Under the circumstances, what Bar would uphold Nifong and disbar Ashley Cannon?

[JLS]

Of all the comments from Volokh on Johnson's site this one cut to the nub:

Face it. This guy [Nifong] sees the need to defend his own actions in the future. He’s in better shape if he, personally, can say “she told me this, she never changed her story to me, and that’s the information I went to trial with.” If he had been speaking to her for months, and her story had changed and contradictory information had come out (as it has), and then he simply decided to use the “best” (for him) story at trial, he’d have a much more uncomfortable afternoon or two before the bar authorities.

Granted, he still faces that burden through the police interviews, but I think he’s more personally insulated if there’s no prior Nifong interview.

[xoxoxox]

Cannon - Nifong allegations

get 10 seconds on noon ABC 11

local TV news. "Nifong being dragged

into the mud.."-- Lots of car wrecks

lead broadcast. Better visuals.

Note to channel 11 producers: good

visuals over in Hillsborough at the

Platinum.

[Hogeye13]

I'll bet the defense already knows more about this case than she does. They quite obviously know more about it than the DA and his "investigator", Linwood Wilson, do.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Abb, maybe you can ping this list.

It seems as if Brian Taylor's stepfather is Liberia's Internal Affairs Minister designate Ambulai B. Johnson.
This would explain why he has gotten "special treatment"

Brief background:
Minister of Internal Affairs—Ambulai B. Johnson

http://www.frontpageafrica.com/RunScript.asp?page=&Article_ID=1874&NWS=NWS&ap=NewsDetail.asp&p=ASP/~Pg0.asp


Asset Reported Value Estimated Value Amount Owed Net Location
A B= A*Percent C D=B-C Location
Savings Account Virginia, USA
Money Market Accounts Virginia, USA
Equity in home Virginia, USA
US Savings Bond North Carolina, USA
Stock and Mutual Fund North Carolina, USA
Infiniti G-5 North Carolina, USA
Monte Carlo North Carolina, USA
Four Acres of City Land Virginia, Liberia
Two lots of vacant land Monrovia, Liberia
Partially developed land Senjeh, Bomi, lLiberia
Plot of land Clay Street, Monrovia, Liberia
Acres of land (500) Suehn, Liberia
Acres of land (100) Johnsonville, Liberia
Two lots with a house Paynesville

Basic Asset Assumptions: Estimated property values in America were not discounted down. But we set confidence level at 70 percent that the reported values in Liberia approximate estimated values. The discount is set at 30 percent off reported amounts to reflect the high risk of deviations.

Johnson’s total net worth stands at $492,800. He has no undistributed joint family lands or properties.

Income Assumption: None. He provided all information. Major source last income generated from NIS Solutions. (see below)

Big Concern: Reported only equity in home, making it rather difficult to evaluate the merit of estimated market value against known loan amount.

Conclusion: He is asset rich. He has quite a large pool of cash and near cash assets, providing a health cash flow cushion, but no knowledge of any liabilities, which usually serves as a foundation upon which people engage in all sorts of activities.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

NIS Solutions

http://www.nissolutions.com

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CAREERS
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[maggief]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Johnson-Sirleaf

Johnson-Sirleaf is the mother of four sons (two live in the United States and two live in Liberia) and has six grandchildren, some of whom live in Atlanta, Georgia.

[Ready4Freddy]

I saw that one, JLS, and also thought it was particularly incisive. Have to admit I was a little surprised by the number of posts indicating that Nifong's not talking to the AV wouldn't be that unusual in their jurisdictions.

[Ready4Freddy]

I saw that one, JLS, and also thought it was particularly incisive. Have to admit I was a little surprised by the number of posts indicating that Nifong's not talking to the AV wouldn't be that unusual in their jurisdictions.

[Ready4Freddy]

I saw that one, JLS, and also thought it was particularly incisive. Have to admit I was a little surprised by the number of posts indicating that Nifong's not talking to the AV wouldn't be that unusual in their jurisdictions.

[Ready4Freddy]

Wow, a triple stutter, wtf happened there!? Sorry...

[Ready4Freddy]

I certainly agree with you overall, hogeye, but I think they both know plenty that the other side does not. Such as... she might well know how much discovery material still hasn't ben turned over to the defense.

I'll bet the defense already knows more about this case than she does.

[maggief]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060321-1.html

Miss Berylene Rita Sirleaf, Granddaughter to the President of the Republic of Liberia, Daughter to Mr. Charles Sirleaf

Dr. James Adamah Sirleaf, Medical Doctor and Son to the President of the Republic of Liberia
Mrs. Rosa Sirleaf
Master Jamell Adamah Sirleaf, Grandson to the President of the Republic of Liberia (Son)
Miss Madia Amina Sirleaf, Granddaughter to the President of the Republic of Liberia (Daughter)

Miss Jenelle Elsa Sirleaf, Granddaughter to the President of the Republic of Liberia, Daughter to Mr. Charles Sirleaf

Mr. Robert A. Sirleaf, Son to the President of the Republic of Liberia
Ms. Jennifer Doyle, Guest of Mr. Robert Sirleaf (Guest)

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Damon Johnson died of kidney failure secondary to Diabetes. It said he had fought the diabetes for 15 years.

It is posted on a family website.

Maggief, do you remember what year Finesse's son died?

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

It's a family affair.....

So Brian's stepfather could very well be THE ruling family of Liberia.

And he is driving a hooker around?