Posted on 04/23/2006 8:52:59 AM PDT by TexKat
DURHAM -- Results from the second round of DNA tests in connection with the Duke lacrosse rape investigation will not likely be available before May 15, District Attorney Mike Nifong said Saturday.
Nifong also denied an allegation by some defense attorneys that the second exotic dancer at the March 13 party where the rape allegedly occurred received special treatment from Nifong's office so she'd cooperate with the prosecutor.
Kim Roberts, 31, was arrested March 22 -- eight days after the lacrosse party -- on a probation violation from a 2001 conviction for embezzling $25,000.
The same day a grand jury indicted lacrosse players Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty, a judge agreed to a change so that Roberts would no longer have to pay a 15 percent fee to a bonding agent. Nifong signed a document saying he would not oppose the change.
Soon after the rape allegation was made, Roberts told defense attorneys that she doubted the story of her colleague who told police she was dragged into a bathroom and raped. But in an interview last week with the Associated Press, Roberts said she thinks some players -- she's not sure which ones -- are guilty.
"It seems she is receiving very favorable financial treatment [from prosecutors] for what she is now saying," said Bill Thomas, a defense attorney for one of the lacrosse players who has not been indicted.
Nifong said Saturday that wasn't his motive in agreeing to change Roberts' bond from secured to unsecured.
"It's consistent with local bonding policy," Nifong said, when asked why he supported the change.
Nifong, who faces two challengers in the May 2 Democratic primary, attended a meet-and-greet with supporters Saturday at Joe & Jo's Downtown Restaurant and Pub, where he fielded a few questions from The Herald-Sun.
Nifong ordered the second round of DNA tests from a private lab after initial tests by the SBI crime lab in Raleigh failed to find DNA from any of 46 lacrosse players tested on or in the accuser, nor any of her DNA in the bathroom in which she said she was raped, sodomized, beaten and strangled for 30 minutes by three men.
Some defense attorneys had said they expected the new DNA test results last week.
Next, I would look at the information that Nifong gave 50 interviews. I think this was reckless, unethical, and unprofessional. His only statement should have been to the effect that an investigation was continuing, and that no further statements would be issued.
And this is COMPLETELY off topic, but fitting.
Patrick Henry is just KILLING ME!
We don't want Yankees with dildos coming down here and corrupting our women.
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lol
I did not follow the Freda Black saga, what exactly happened between Freda and Nifong?
The first thing he did was take away her parking spot; when she complained, he fired her.
BTW, he was appointed by our sleazy governor, Mike Easley.
Patrick, I posted some of your posts on this thread.
HIO, I wanted you to be sure and see this. It's almost as funny as yours!
Oh, it will be so sweet if Freda can kick his butt in the up coming primary.
I do not understand why the media keep saying 'he is a decent fair man, he must have evidence.'
It seems to me, just by the story of the parking space, he is a petty jerk.
Quite all right.
go to foxnews.com, "Video" on red toolbar
"The first thing he did was take away her parking spot; when she complained, he fired her. "
Seriously? Whoa. True southern gentleman, that one.
Committee announces endorsements for elections
BY KELLY HINCHCLIFFE : The Herald-Sun
khinchcliffe@heraldsun.com; 419-6651
Apr 22, 2006 : 9:15 pm ET
DURHAM -- The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People met for about 6 ½ hours Saturday to decide which candidates it would support in the May 2 election and primaries, as well as some Nov. 7 races.
Committee Chairwoman Lavonia Allison said the committee only considered endorsing a candidate if he or she came for an interview. Interviews were held over a six-day period recently, and both the political committee and the group's general body voted Saturday, Allison said. Allison noted that the interviews conducted this year were more upbeat than in previous years.
"Most candidates spoke positively of their opponents," she said.
After reporting the results to local media, Allison said the chosen candidates would be notified of the Committee's choices.
"We hope they will in fact be victorious," she said of the Committee's picks.
In Durham school board elections, the Committee endorsed Jackie Wagstaff in District 1, Regina George-Bowden in District 2 and Steven Matherly in District 3. The Committee did not endorse Steve Martin, who is running unopposed in District 4.
The Committee also made endorsements in the Democratic primary to be held on May 2, including Worth Hill for sheriff and Keith Bishop for district attorney.
For state House District 29, the Committee endorsed Larry Hall.
It also endorsed David Price for the U.S. House District 4 seat.
In the nonpartisan primary for two District Court judgeships, the Committee endorsed Anita Smith and Tracy Hicks Barley.
In two Court of Appeals judge races, the Committee endorsed Bob Hunter and Linda Stephens.
The Committee endorsed Robin Hudson for an associate justice seat on the N.C. Supreme Court.
In the Nov. 7 election, the Committee endorsed Archie Smith, who is running unopposed, for clerk of Superior Court.
It endorsed unopposed state Senate candidates Bob Atwater, District 18; and Jeanne Hopkins Lucas, District 20.
For state House District 31, the Committee endorsed Mickey Michaux Jr., who is running unopposed. It did not endorse Paul Luebke in District 30 or Winkie Wilkins in District 55, both of who are also running unopposed.
The Committee also threw its support behind Marcia Morey and Elaine Bushfan, who are running unopposed for District Court judgeships. The group did not endorse Craig Brown or James Hill, who are also running unopposed for seats as District Court judges.
For two associate justice N.C. Supreme Court seats, the Committee endorsed Mark Martin and Patricia Timmons-Goodson.
The Committee endorsed Sarah Parker for chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court.
DURHAM -- The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People met for about 6 ½ hours Saturday to decide which candidates it would support in the May 2 election and primaries, as well as some Nov. 7 races.
The Committee also made endorsements in the Democratic primary to be held on May 2, including Worth Hill for sheriff and Keith Bishop for district attorney.
____________________
HAHAHAHAAA!!
Seriously.
I read the thread--LOL--still chuckling
DA: Alleged Rape May Have Racial Angle
By Darla Miles (03/27/06 -- DURHAM) - Durham's district attorney is speaking very candidly about what could happen to anyone charged in the alleged gang rape at a party last week.
"In this case, where you have the act of rape - - essentially a gang rape - - is bad enough in and of itself, but when it's made with racial with racial epithets against the victim, I mean, it's just absolutely unconscionable," said District Attorney Mike Nifong.
Investigators say several members of the Duke lacrosse team made the racial slurs to the two black women hired to dance at the house party.
"The contempt that was shown for the victim, based on her race was totally abhorrent," Nifong said. "It adds another layer of reprehensibleness, to a crime that already reprehensible."
Nifong tells Eyewitness News that he may consider adding hate crimes to any other potential charges if investigators determine the victim was targeted because of her race.
"I don't think you can classify anything about what went on as a prank that got out of hand or drinking that took place by people who are underage," Nifong said.
"My guess is that some of this stonewall of silence that we have seen may tend to crumble once charges start to come out," Nifong said.
Lawyers: DNA Will Clear Lacrosse Members
"If the only thing that we ever have in this case is DNA, then we wouldn't have a case," Nifong said.
Comments about the Duke Lacrosse Arrests
"It had been my hope to charge all three of the assailants at the same time, but the evidence available to me at this moment does not permit that. Investigation into the identity of the third assailant will continue in the hope that he can also be identified with certainty. It is important that we not only bring the assailants to justice, but also that we lift the cloud of suspicion from those team members who were not involved in the assault."
-- Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong.
Rape Investigation 'Not Going Away'
"My conviction that a sexual assault actually took place is based on the examination that was done at Duke Hospital," Nifong said.
"Anytime you have a victim who can identify her assailant, then what you have is a case that must go to the jury, which means, in this situation, a jury will get to evaluate the evidence," Nifong said.
Yep no bias there! The chief problem, is that none of this has been proved in a court of law. But don't tell Nifong that.
>>Police have also searched a second home occupied by lacrosse team members, but documents describing the location or what investigators found have been sealed by court order, prosecutors and police said. <<
Do you know why the evidence found in this second home has been sealed by court order, and the evidence from the home where the party was held, have been released?
The Newsweek article said the 2 students were charged w/rape and kidnapping. What happened to the charge of larceny published earlier?
One of the articles above had Crystal "ALLEGEDLY" stealing a car. That was a fact, not a claim.
I sincerely hope the parents include Newsweek in their suit for defamation....putting their sons' pictures on the cover of a national magazine....
It's a pretty harsh experience to go through just because someone went to a raunchy party. I too hope that the parents of ALL the players will initiate of class action lawsuit against everyone they can get their hands on, including but not limited to, the AV, Kim, The escort service, Mike Nifong, The Durham District Attorney's Office, The City of Durham, the Duke President, Duke University, and Newsweek.
Actually, I have seen many taxicabs that would unlikely qualify as a "car".
Never mind that, how about the culture of criminality in a big fraction of Durham. There are plenty of locations that are "no go" zones for white faces. I'm thinking Holloway St. to start with.
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