Duke Lacrosse Accuser Made Previous Report

AP ^ | Apr 27 2006 | AARON BEARD

[Conservative Coulter Fan]

The woman who says she was raped by three members of Duke's lacrosse team also told police 10 years ago she was raped by three men, filing a 1996 complaint claiming she had been assaulted three years earlier when she was 14.

Authorities in nearby Creedmoor said Thursday that none of the men named in the decade-old report was ever charged but they didn't have details why.

A phone number for the accuser has been disconnected and her family declined to comment to The Associated Press. But relatives told Essence magazine in an online story this week that the woman declined to pursue the case out of fear for her safety.

The existence of the report surprised defense attorneys, one of whom has sought information about the accuser's past for use in attacking her credibility.

"That's the very first I've heard of that," said Bill Cotter, the attorney for indicted lacrosse player Collin Finnerty, who along with fellow Duke sophomore Reade Seligmann is charged with first-degree rape, kidnapping and sexual assault. He declined additional comment.

Attorneys for Seligmann asked the court this week to order the state to turn over the accuser's medical, legal and education records, and hold a pretrial hearing to "determine if the complaining witness is even credible enough to provide reliable testimony."

The accuser, a 27-year-old student at North Carolina Central University in Durham, told police she was hired to perform as a stripper at a March 13 party, where she was raped by three men.

According to the Creedmoor police report in August 1996, when the woman was 18, she told officers she was raped and beaten by three men "for a continual time" in 1993, when she was 14. She told police she was attacked at an "unspecified location" on a street in Creedmoor, a town 15 miles northeast of Durham.

The report lists the names of the three men, but no other details. Creedmoor police Chief Ted Pollard said Thursday he had no recollection of the report, and his staff has been unable to find any additional information about it.

Durham police Officer Brian Bishop, who interviewed the accuser in 1996 while working on the Creedmoor force, said Thursday he had a vague recollection of the report but couldn't remember any details.

When asked about the accuser's previous report of rape, Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong declined to comment.

Before Seligmann and Finnerty were indicted, attorneys for the players pointed to the accuser's criminal history when answering questions about their clients' legal troubles. The woman pleaded guilty to several misdemeanors in 2002.

[Publius22]

If there was no police report in 1993 and she did in fact fear for her life if she said anything about it, then perhaps there was a connection to the police. But then why would she feel more free in 1996, at the prompting of her then-fiance, to go to the police and name names? Perhaps the corrupt police officer (if there was one) was no longer on the force?

Well, she did join the Navy not long after that. Not to mention, she had the protection of a husband.

[Dukie07]

That's because xo makes a game of this. And it's not a game to those involved. Trivialization gets what it deserves.

[toldyou]

"Does the AV today have a "client" who is on the police force?"

...client/clients.....IMO, yes. Just speculating!

[CondorFlight]

OK, so who is Brian Scott Mangum?
Her (former) husband?
Was Crystal living in those cities at the same time as this Bryan was arrested?
Are they connected in some way?
Or is it merely coincidence?

[Miss Behave]

You don't know his comfort level. *Trivialization* is a gross mischaracterization.

[Dukie07]

Given the work Nifong's wife does, someone within that organization may well know CM - sounds as if they've been around helping abused children for many years. That could have precipitated Nifong's comment about knowing more about the case than the defense ever would? Just musing here.

[Krodg]

And if they test the DNA for "race" on what they found at the hospital on/in her, under her nails, etc, they'll find it came from a black person, not the white Lax players.

Then perhaps they should test the black player and question whether or not he was the one who invited a couple of friends.

[xoxoxox]

"We keep waiting for the DA to have something - anything - other than CM's testimony. I'm searching for reasons why he went forward with this case."

Go downtown and see the Good Judge. For he has
a long memory. (RS)

[I want to know]

More connections - Superior Court Judge Ronald Stephens, who presided over the indictments of Seligmann and Finnerty and who also unsealed the McFayden search warrant, was the DA at the time of the 1992 investigation into the police prostitution ring.

[Dukie07]

You are correct, I do not know his "comfort level." I must point out, however, that xo needs to realize that he/she may not be taken seriously because of the method of presentation.

I assume you DO know his comfort level? Or are you just playing devil's advocate?

[Miss Behave]

I thank you, xo, and hope that all is well with you tonight.

[I want to know]

Check out the timing of both of our posts. :)

[toldyou]

"Then perhaps they should test the black player and question whether or not he was the one who invited a couple of friends."

I thought it was despicable, as I'm sure you and many others feel, that every single member was not tested. To leave ONE out because "she said,"......not a good move...46 out of 47?

[toldyou]

You just might be right!

[darbymcgill]

Go downtown and see the Good Judge. For he has a long memory. (RS)

hmmm....

The system ripped her off once, it ain't gonna happen again...

Interesting basis for a prosecution

[toldyou]

Thanks!........hugs and kisses!

[snarkytart]

Given the work Nifong's wife does, someone within that organization may well know CM - sounds as if they've been around helping abused children for many years. That could have precipitated Nifong's comment about knowing more about the case than the defense ever would?
__________________________--
Nifong also said he was sure the DNA would name the culprits.
Also, he refused to look at the defense photos before indicting two players, then turned around and had to call the media to find out what was in the pics.

Nifong did not know anything about Mangum's previous rape report in 1996, even though a current Durham officer took the report.

I think Nifong was just puffy up when he made the, "I know more than the defense about this case", comment.

[TexKat]

Perhaps some relation to:

http://www.buffalo.edu/uncrownedqueens/files_2002/mangum_elmira.htm

[JLS]

Given the work Nifong's wife does, someone within that organization may well know CM - sounds as if they've been around helping abused children for many years. That could have precipitated Nifong's comment about knowing more about the case than the defense ever would?
______________________________________________________

Let's see:

1. Nifong has a legal and ethical obligation to turn over EVERYTHING he and his office knows about this case to the defense. I suspect he just stupidly said what you paraphrased, but if not and he allows himself to know more about the case than the defense he is committing legal and ethical violations.

2. If Nifong, for example through his wife, knows anything about anyone involved in the case that is sealed, he has an ethical obligation to recuse himself. And anyone in his office who knows such things are obligated to recuse themselve or at least not let the information bias their decisions concerning potential defendents.

[toldyou]

Gosh, sounds like there are more Mangums than Smiths and Joneses!