Posted on 11/04/2006 1:31:54 AM PST by 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.
Yes, and when the $hit the fan (as in our case), and the media and local black leaders became involved, the extortion calls couldn't be completed. She realized it was a loser and never made the demand. In our case, we got two calls, one to me by her mother and one from the accuser to my husband. She tried repeatedly while our son was away at school in another state. This time, maybe defense can expose the scam.
"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."
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."
You can bet your bottom dollar, the Truth of the Durham Extortion Fraud has
been known to more than just the denizens of the Platinum.
There is going to have to be a lot of explaining down at the courthouse and city hall.
Mike Nifong should resign NOW!!
"Gottlie in blackface. Now that is quite a visual image."
The visual image would of course have to include Gottleib wearing his 'fro wig. He wouldn't need to add a fat-man suit under his clothes.
On a serious note, I wonder if it has yet occurred to Gottlieb and/or his attorney that he's being set up as the designated "fall guy" by Nifong and the Durham establishment? All their (e.g., Nifong, city manager) recent actions and statements seem to be setting the stage for that. They'll be saying things such as "It wasn't my fault, all my actions were based upon what Gottlieb told me, I mistakenly placed my trust in him and believed everything he told me ...we were all fooled by him". And I wonder if Gottlieb is planning to be the loyal patsy and take the bullet for his Durham "superiors". I know I wouldn't.
Gottlieb, I would suggest you save "the evidence" so you can use it to save yourself later. Listen to your attorney. Don't plan on being too loyal to Nifong and the Durham elite, because they sure as hell don't expect or plan to be loyal to you or your interests. Otherwise, plan on changing your name to Patsy Gottlieb.
I Think Nifong , & Precious Belong In Jail !
I'm DISGUSTED that DA'S have the Power Of GOD & can do whatever the hell they want !
I Would like to call internal Affairs on the skumbag Nifong , but I Don't know if that would work !
I Would file a multi millon dollar lawsuit against the police too ........
Unless she just delivered some drugs. Maybe her 'clients' ordered some drugs along with a vibrating performance.
For anyone so inclined:
I have a New Video:
http://forums.talkleft.com/index.php/topic,581.0.html
Looks like Nifong is going to have to claw to make it to the Election. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!
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Looks like business is down signifigantly in Durham.
Very nice vidoe tribute to the good guys in this. The one thing I do not understand is why the picture of Rita? Was she good on this from the start or quick to come around?
BTW, though I am not a mover and shaker around here, thanks for including the FreeRepublic front page.
Maybe I'm getting my days mixed up, but it seems Ms. Kim could have done a lot of explaining, and was never fully questioned or investigated.
Great Video! Thank You very much.
EXCELLENT! Loved it, and the FR mention. :)
Bogus 911 calls.
Hooker rip-offs.
Fake rape accusations.
Police frame-up.
Grand jury deceit.
Primary election swindle.
Extortion attempts.
Conspiracy to cover-up.
Media collaboration.
Ongoing attempt to STEAL the election.
NO ONE in this Town can be TRUSTED.
There isn't a jail big enough to stuff everybody.
Where are the handcuffs?
Most excellent.!
Corruption is out of control that's for sure.
Where's the Attorney General of N.C. ?
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Ref: Rita
I had to get some LIPS in there. I know the criticism of Rita Cosby, and I don't think she's the brightest bulb; however she did a couple morning AM radio shows why she was camped out in Durham in April, and she reported on the air that there was real concern about mental health issues with the woman, and she reported (heard it myself) that the woman was a veteran of the strip circuit in and around N.C. Of course, this didn't make it to her TV show.
She said on the radio show that she went to UNC Chapel Hill, IIRC, and she knows her way around. She said her producer was finding out things about the woman and it wasn't complimentary. My note: at that time she was operating under the notion that if the DNA didn't match - there would be no case. So, I was thinking she didn't want to trash the woman, if she was a prostitute that got raped.
She's not as bad as one might think at first. Obviously, I don't think she's a serious journalist - although she is an aggressive tabloid type journalist.
She was the one that got Bissey's statement on record - and Elmo's too. She also asked the Father a bunch of questions that weren't good for public opinion then; however, they sure do show him to be a liar now. He would be totally useless and then some in court.
Thanks
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Thank you - you're all very kind. It does help to know someone is watching the stuff you put out there.
Somebody said they linked it on CTV, LOL!
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A city as corrupt as Durham calls for plasticuffs and a tent city.
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