The Herald-Sun
jstevenson@heraldsun.com
May 11, 2006 : 10:47 pm ET
DURHAM -- Attorneys representing Duke lacrosse players downplayed the significance of reports Thursday that tissue found under a fingernail of the alleged rape victim might match one of the players.
But other attorneys not associated with the case said the findings could be a big boost to the prosecution.
Lawyer Bill Thomas, representing an unindicted lacrosse player, was among those who downplayed the report.
"I put no stock in any of these preliminary rumors," he said. "I will wait until I see the final analysis before jumping to conclusions."
Thomas said that if a lacrosse player had merely picked up the artificial fingernail from the floor and thrown it into a trashcan, some of his DNA would have become attached to the nail.
"I would find that to be of no probative value as regards a rape," Thomas added. "If an indictment were issued on a finding like that, it would be a sad day for the criminal justice system."
"What does it prove?" asked lawyer James D. "Butch" Williams, who represents another un-indicted lacrosse player. "It proves absolutely nothing. There are so many different scenarios about how that DNA could have come to be there."
Attorney Bob Ekstrand, representing 32 unindicted lacrosse players, agreed Thursday that it would be best to wait for a final DNA report.
"These kinds of things, you just have to see the written report," he said. "It's all speculation right now."
Yes, some of the pro-Mangum (lol, kind of sounds like cro-magnon, doesn't it?) lawyers on TV are crowing about TISSUE being found under the nail. A skin cell would be considered tissue, I believe.