Defense attorneys for members of the Duke lacrosse team at a Friday evening press conference.
Defense Attorneys In Duke Case Respond To Second DNA Report
POSTED: 5:26 pm EDT May 12, 2006 UPDATED: 8:52 pm EDT May 12, 2006
DURHAM, N.C. -- A defense attorney in the Duke lacrosse investigation said Friday that a second round of DNA test results shows a partial match to members of the team on one item, but the report found no conclusive ties to the accuser.
Defense attorney Joe Cheshire said at an early evening press conference that a single source was linked to DNA during the testing, but it was identified by Durham police as an unidentified male who was not on the team.
Cheshire said that the partial match to Duke lacrosse team members was made from a sample taken from a fake fingernail found in a trash can inside the home where the accuser alleges the rape took place during a party on March 13.
District Attorney Mike Nifong began distributing a second round of DNA test results to defense attorneys in the Duke lacrosse investigation late Friday afternoon.
As reported Thursday, the results show a partial DNA match with one of the lacrosse players who has not yet been charged.
The private lab tested finger nails, hair samples and other pieces of possible evidence. The report has scientific data, which defense attorneys began reading Friday afternoon to determine if there are any other matches involving the alleged rape. Defense attorneys said the first round of DNA results did not show a match.
Two players, Colin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann, have been indicted in the investigation.
The grand jury is scheduled to meet Monday, and Nifong will likely seek the indictment of the third suspect with the new report.