Posted on 04/25/2006 2:34:48 AM PDT by abb
DURHAM - District Attorney Mike Nifong plans to reinstate misdemeanor charges against a half-dozen Duke lacrosse players, saying a March 13 party where a woman reported a rape broke the deals that the players made with prosecutors.
Nifong's decision could affect players who, before the party, had entered agreements in which prosecutors would dismiss the cases if the players performed community service and stayed out of trouble for six months or a year. Among the first to have his charges reinstated was David Evans, one of the team captains who lived at 610 N. Buchanan Blvd., the site of the party in which lacrosse players hired two women from escort services to dance. One of the women told police that she was raped by three men in a bathroom.
Two players, Collin Finnerty, 19, and Reade William Seligmann, 20, were charged last week with first-degree rape, first-degree sex offense and first-degree kidnapping. Their attorneys say the men are innocent.
On Monday, an attorney for Seligmann filed a motion seeking information that would help attack the credibility of the woman, the only person, according to the defense filing, who says a rape occurred. The motion seeks information about the woman, including criminal charges, mental and emotional problems the woman has suffered as well as social services, probation, child protective services and victim's advocacy records.
Today, Finnerty is due in a Washington court where prosecutors in an assault charge are considering whether to revoke a deferred prosecution agreement similar to those affecting other players in Durham.
According to court records, 16 players were charged in the past three years with misdemeanor charges in Durham including noise violations, public urination and alcohol violations. The deals placed the men on probation for either six months or a year.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsobserver.com ...
The only thing "new" that I saw was this piece in the Durham paper about the election debate for DA. http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-728395.html
More absent than even I thought is common sense judging by the cheerleaders for the empty headed.
Don't you think it would be more Kafkaesque if he woke up and discovered that he had turned into a human being?
Good point! He's already a cockroach....Get the spray cans!
What, exactly, is your issue?
"Street trash" is too kind a word.
Would you go to the worst neighborhood where you live in the late night early morning hours to hire a plumber for some emergency at your home? Wave enough dollars and you'll find the plumber. Would you bring him into your home? When he robs you, your house and your car would you and people refused you sympathy for your plight after -- I bet you'd be calling them names, eh? Protecting that well-kept pride of the foolish you'd be.
The spite here? There is some, sure. For exmaple the folks who are talking a position in spite of all common sense.
Have you followed the thread of my comments and the responses, or just speaking to the nearest?
No finer answer is found than to follow the discussion back, and if you'd be so kind in the future provide a wee bit more context as to your plaint.
Are you saying that the team members' lapse in common sense is justification for their being thrown under Nifong's speeding train?
That's just it. I HAVE followed the conversation back, and I find that you seem to think this entire fiasco is the boys' own fault. Since that's obviously a nonsenical position, I disbelieve it and thought I would ask what your EXACT issue is with regard to this case.
Good morning, all.
From your link:
"It's not me who is trying this case in the media," he added. "The defense is trying this case in the media. Maybe they want us to move it to Aruba or someplace like that."
"No policy can deal with a case like the Duke lacrosse case," said Nifong. "You can't write a policy about that."
Here's another quote:
“I underestimated the attention the case would get if I let the news media know (via 70 interviews, d'oh!) why I was going to take the case,” he said.
http://www.wral.com/news/8999502/detail.html
Thanks much, Carolinamom.
Agree on all points, and not only all that, Nifong's gone and really pissed them all off big time by doing this, as if they all weren't pissed off enough in the first place. All this is going to do is ratchet up the wall of defense.
I don't think Nifong expects this to bring him any information, which leaves us with raw malice on Nifong's part.
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This fits in with his personality. Nifong took away Freda Black's parking space and when she complained he fired her.
Obviously he is petty.
Agree on all points, and not only all that, Nifong's gone and really pissed them all off big time by doing this, as if they all weren't pissed off enough in the first place. All this is going to do is ratchet up the wall of defense.
I don't think Nifong expects this to bring him any information, which leaves us with raw malice on Nifong's part.
_____________
This fits in with his personality. Nifong took away Freda Black's parking space and when she complained he fired her.
Obviously he is petty.
Notice how the Durham police department is MIA on the WRAL list of key people? Police Chief Steve Chalmers is on personal leave, but is reported "to be keeping abreast of developments". I don't think this perfect storm of bad decisions could have happened if LE were fulfilling their normal investigative function.
And in addition three defense lawyers tried to show Nifong exculpatory evidence (like the photos) pre-indictments, and according to the Newsweek article Nifong snapped, "I know more about this case than you ever will." That comment sounds not only unprofessional, but unstable to me.
"I know more about this case than you ever will."
Let's see ... Nifong doesn't even know who was at the party and hasn't seen the pictures. That's just a start.
The only people who were at the party were the 3 team captains who stiplulated to such and Seligman, who was placed there by the cab driver and he left early. Any ID's by the AV and Kim are based on a tainted photo ID. No one else has admitted presence at the scene. Without POSITIVE ID, no one else can be placed at the scene. It matters not what else is said. The only thing that counts is what can be PROVED in court.
Brodhead on GMA...
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