| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 05/13/2006 11:52:58 AM PDT by Admin Moderator, reason:
New thread here |
Posted on 05/11/2006 9:17:59 PM PDT by TexKat
DURHAM, N.C. -- A Duke lacrosse player whose DNA may match tissue found under the fake fingernails of an exotic dancer who claims she was raped was identified in a photo lineup with 90 percent certainty, sources tell NBC-17.
The Durham Herald-Sun reported Thursday tissue found under the accuser's acrylic fingernail came from the same genetic pool and was "consistent" with the bodily makeup of one of 46 lacrosse players who gave DNA samples for testing.
The paper cites several sources and said scientists also ruled out a possible match with any of the other 45 students, according to the sources.
If accurate, the fingernail tissue match would offer the first DNA evidence potentially linking the dancer and an alleged attacker.
But because a complete DNA pattern was not obtained from the tissue, it was not possible to match it with the nearly 100 percent certainty that DNA results usually offer, the sources added.
90 Percent Certainty
Now, NBC-17 has learned that the player is not one of the two already accused in the case -- Reade Seligmann, of Essex Fells, N.J., and Collin Finnerty, of Garden City, N.Y. He is, however, a player that the alleged rape victim picked out in a police lineup with 90 percent certainty.
The 27-year-old North Carolina Central University student told police she was beaten and raped by three lacrosse players while she performed at a March 13 team party. She said she clawed at the players in an effort to fight them off.
Never Applied?
Defense attorneys claim, however, that nothing about the reported possible DNA match means anything to the case if you look at the type of fingernails, where they were found, and if you look at a picture of the accuser's hand shortly after she arrived at the party.
According to defense attorneys, police found four stick-on acrylic fingernails in a trashcan at 610 Buchanan Street, the house where the party took place. The tissue connected to the possible DNA match was found under one of those fingernails.
But defense attorneys said the third player accused lived at the house and it is no surprise that trace amounts of his DNA could be found inside his own trashcan. They also said they don't believe the type of fingernails that were found -- the kind that are applied with an adhesive strip -- actually ripped off during an attack. They don't believe the fingernails were ever applied and they say they have pictures to prove it.
NBC-17 has seen a picture of the dancer's hand at the house when she performed her dance routine. It appears that long, fake fingernails were on some of her fingers in that photo, but not all of them.
Other photos show what defense lawyers believe is red fingernail polish on the walls of the house and on the railing outside the house. They believe the accuser was painting and applying her nails while at the party.
Defense attorneys admit that none of them have seen the DNA report the Herald Sun article is based upon, but they said if District Attorney Mike Nifong has the DNA report, their clients are entitled to see it.
Accuser's Father Responds
The accuser's father called reports of a DNA break in the case long overdue.
"I wasn't surprised to hear that. I feel like we should have learned it before," he said.
Kim Roberts, another dancer who performed at the party where the alleged attack took place, paid an emotional visit to the accuser's parents on Thursday.
"It was real emotional -- she was crying, my wife was crying. She said that she was sorry she left (outside) the house before my daughter did," the accuser's father said.
Authorities said they would know what the DNA shows by early next week.
Thanks for including me with maggie, but I typically ask more questions than have any sources or links like Maggie does :-)
LOL!
"ZAHN: How, then, sir, do you explain the woman's injuries...particularly some of the internal injuries?"
RIPPED? Are we back to that? LOL.
I still want to know WHAT injuries.
Visiting WRAL and NBC-17 websites, I've noticed the many violent crimes occurring in Durham. I believe the black community, tired of seeing a continual parade of black suspects perp walked on the nightly news, has experienced a degree of satisfaction, bordering on euphoria, in the lacrosse saga.
Evidence/no evidence, alibi/no alibi, DNA/no DNA, makes absolutely no difference. What matters is a continuation of the safisfying spectacle. Nifong will never willingly stop this debacle until a verdict is delivered. His fondest wish may be a hung jury, which would allow him to do it all again.
I think you are probably right.
You asked me yesterday what the feeling is down here -- well, everybody I talk to think it's an absolute sham and embarassment to this state.
And we are ALL wondering what is going on in Durham. My husband travels quite a bit and this morning as he was leaving I said, "Be careful when you go through Durham County; I don't want you arrested over there."
And he said, "It looks like I wouldn't even have to do anything to be stopped."
Sad, isn't it?
But you can type like no one I've ever known...
Absolutely! I've noticed the exact same thing.
Yes, but I never heard he was at the party at some point and then left for dinner.
My niece sent me to a fun web site to practice typing.
Is the timeframe up for the DA to give all discovery information to the defense?
I guess Zash, Flannery, Thompson, and Evans are graduating today and gratefully leaving Durham, if they haven't already. If Evans is indicted next week, I wonder how they will "retrieve" him? Will Gottlieb and Himan go to the family "mansion" in person?
Finnerty's hearing was pushed forward to mid-June because Nifong said he wouldn't have his discovery ready this week as planned. What does that say about the quality of the investigation he undertook before indicting Collin? Quite a lot imo.
I hope we will learn soon whether there was a date rape drug in the tox report and what the SANE report really said about the physical "trauma" in the accuser.
By faxing the DNA report to them at 5pm on Friday, I'm sure he hoped not only to influence the GJ Monday but to the defense's efforts to respond.
The defense presser last night outfoxed him, however!
Cheshire said that when he asked to speak to Nifong, the office worker said Nifong was in his office "stuffing envelopes". (Probably sending out his resume. lol)
Since Nifong's discovery isn't ready, then he hasn't had to share what he does have with the defense, is what that means, I guess. My knowledge about these things is limited (as you can tell!).
May 15th.
But he says he's not ready; if you look at the video of the rest of the presser on the WRAL site, Cheshire said he's never before seen a case where the DA claims his discovery isn't ready AFTER an arrest.
Precisely.
And the national media wants so badly to believe that an elite-white-students on struggling-black-mother rape occurred here, in fact demanding that it have occurred, in order to give validation to their belief system.
Nifong was stuffing envelopes? LOL
to the = to thwart the
LOL!
I haven't looked at that video, but that's what I wasn't quite getting. How can a DA's defense discovery not be ready AFTER an arrest. Are there no rules that govern this kind of thing?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.