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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.
MSNBC reporting on this story now
That's what it means, for sure.
I'd love to be a fly on the wall in that courtroom when he tries to explain that. The defense will eat him alive -- and then come out on the steps of the courthouse and tell us all about it.
I think they finally learned this week that neither Nifong or the press is playing fair with them.
Rules? By Nifong? Aren't you the dreamer.
Did he say anything new?
I wish I knew where he was doing those live feeds; I'd go down there and have a word of prayer with him!
Nothing new at all. The anchorette on MSNBC made sure to say at the end, with regard to the DNA coming from someone known to the Durham PD, that "well, this is what the defense is saying, anyway".
Just now catching up on this thread. I missed the news yesterday, and all I can say is, "Wow!" Why isn't this over already?
Thanks again for the ping!
Pretty much what Greta said last night. She thinks the case is over and without merit.
Reach out to the black community? Why, so they can level false charges against innocent students whenever they feel like it? That's tantamount to asking when a black student is arrested for something to why Duke doesn't reach out to the KKK, for crying out loud.
There doesn't seem nearly as much hoopla about this revelation of the players' innocence as the media's eagerness to 'report' on the False Accuser's alleged rape and her victimhood at the hands of these 'rapists' at the party.
Really dumb question and please forgive me. But how on earth did SBI NOT include this vaginal swab result in the first round of DNA? Big lacrosse game today but I'll be checking in. Thanks.
Definitely. The media's bias has now reached new levels and into new areas.
Greta actually said that? I'm impressed. She seems to try and stay very fair, so if she says it's over, I have to believe it is.
Maybe the SANE nurse sent the vaginal swab samples to a different lab?
Good question. But I am cynical enough about Nifong and his MO as to think it possible that that finding could have been on the last page of the report, and Nifong 'forgot' to include it to the defense.
Yell extra loud for me. :-)
Good question!
She said it was over last night. A few times. Then at the very end she said something like "unless the DA has something we don't know about".
FYI:
http://www.mass.gov/dph/fch/sane/2003_sane_protocol.pdf
Here is the SANE exam protocol for Mass.
I cannot think it is much different from NC. It is very interesting
Remember--stay away from skanky strippers. Skank kills
Good luck at the game!
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