Grand jury may consider new charges in Duke case

Raliegh Observer ^ | 5/15/06 | Ben Niolet

[pissant]

DURHAM - A Durham grand jury is scheduled to meet today, and the session could mean new charges in the investigation of a reported rape at a Duke lacrosse team party.

Two of the team's players were indicted in April on charges of first degree rape, first degree sex offense and first degree kidnapping. They are accused of assaulting an escort service dancer in a bathroom of a house at 610 N. Buchanan Blvd. Their lawyers say the men are innocent, and lawyers representing dozens of team members say that no sex or assault occurred at the March 13 party.

But the woman says she was attacked by three men, and Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong said he has been working on bringing charges against a third person.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TODAY? If Nifong decides to submit the case, police investigators and possibly other witnesses will try to convince grand jurors in a secret session that the state has probable cause to bring a case forward. Grand jurors will hear only the prosecution's side of the case. The standard required for a true bill of indictment is far lower than the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard required for a conviction.

IF INDICTMENTS ARE ISSUED, WHEN WILL THEY BECOME PUBLIC? On April 17, a judge ordered the indictments in the lacrosse case sealed. The names of the players who were indicted were not released until 5 a.m. the next day when the players surrendered at the Durham County jail. If Nifong again requests that the indictments be sealed, the law allows a judge to keep them secret until the person is arrested or appears in court.

WHEN WILL ALL THE EVIDENCE BE REVEALED? State law requires prosecutors to turn over all of their case files to defense lawyers, but nothing requires the evidence to be turned over to the public. In open court hearings, lawyers often discuss some of the evidence, but the state's case may not be revealed until trial. No trial dates have been set. When a report on the DNA testing is complete, Nifong is required by law to turn it over to all 46 members of the lacrosse team who submitted DNA samples.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The cases against Reade William Seligmann, 20, of Essex Fells, N.J., and Collin Finnerty, 19, of Garden City, N.Y., are moving forward. Finnerty has a court date in June. Seligmann is scheduled to appear in court Thursday. His attorney, Kirk Osborn, has filed a series of motions challenging Nifong's handling of the case and asking a judge to bar the prosecutor from further involvement.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

with them calling each other gay

I'm wondering when the libs are going to round up every boy between the ages of 12 and 19, LOL! "That's so gay" is their "gross"

[Alia]

The poem is so lovely, Jrabbit.

Dishonor is cheap and easy; but HONOR is hard work. You've instilled in your sons a precious gift and understanding.

[Alia]

Words and purposes matter; facts do not.

The mind REELS with incident after incident upon which your words above are proven over and over again.

[Alia]

lol!

But of course, you know the media and the racebaiters will ONLY want to focus upon the "cotton shirt" and not the "Limp" willie comment...

[Locomotive Breath]

Patience grasshopper.

[Alia]

Koblinsky just said that it's possible that Evans may have been wearing a fake mustache

This story is missing some classic ingredients like a Midget, and the one-armed man...

[Sacajaweau]

Reade asks for Crystal's phone cell records: Excellent..It's the first thing I would ask for, too. There may be GPS data attached, too.

[uncitizen]

Now that the election is over, one has to wonder why he's still on this crusade to ruin the lives of these innocent young men.

That's why he has to wait til next spring for the trial. He hopes this will move to the back burner and the charges will be dropped and/or people will forget what BS he's pulled.

[Alia]

Nifong doesn't want to see any facts because if he did then he would be ethically bound to report it to the gj.

eeks. Stunning, isn't it....

[ccmay]

But the whole thing is mind boggling, it is fifty against one phony line up, dna against one phony line-up, cab driver and photos against one phony line-up and not a single talkign head has even positied a scenario that would fit with the known evidence.

Don't underestimate the power of leftists to believe in a lie. Big lies, gross lies, lies on stilts, they'll believe in it if it reinforces their own prejudices. Look at all the people who still believe in the Dan Rather memos. For that matter, look at all the leftist idiots who still believe in Marxist economic theory.

-ccm

[Alia]

Thank you, Jezebelle -- I'd been wanting a name to put to the hysterical female I heard: Cory Peterson. Aha, jumping before the cameras for PR purposes. ick.

[Sacajaweau]

So WHY did Crystal say he had a mustache? Was she "instructed" by NiFong to make an erroneous identification? That's what has given NiFong "more time", otherwise all three whould have been indicted at the same time. NiFong had the same evidence on all the boys: "She screamed rape and they were there...He said, she said."

Sounds terrible but it's the only thing I can think of. Don't forget, Crystal "owes" NiFong and JESSE JACKSON. You don't think Jesse jumped in without calling NiFong first.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

WRAL.com - News - Lacrosse Defense Attorney Concerned Over City Manager's Actions

 

Lacrosse Defense Attorney Concerned Over City Manager's Actions

POSTED: 11:00 pm EDT May 15, 2006

UPDATED: 12:07 am EDT May 16, 2006

 

DURHAM, N.C. -- A defense attorney for one of three suspects charged in the Duke lacrosse rape investigation filed a hearing notice on Monday asking for the court to hear several motions when his client appears in court on Thursday.

In one motion, defense attorney Kirk Osborn, who represents lacrosse player Reade Seligamann, asks that the Durham Police Department turn over all notes, tapes and information relating to the case to the Durham County District Attorney's office.

The court document says attorneys are concerned because Durham City Manager Patrick Baker has been interviewing police officers and may have pressured them to "get their stories straight."

Osborn, told WRAL on Monday that he was very concerned by Baker's actions, that they were unusual, and that he wanted to make sure the evidence is preserved.

Baker, during Durham's City Council meeting on Monday night, denied the assertion.

"I'm not asking them to get their stories straight at all," Baker said. "Certainly, as the chief executive officer of this organization, I feel like it's my duty to this Council and this community to make sure I'm in touch with what's going on........" (excerpted)

Reporter: Amanda Lamb
Web Editor: Kelly Gardner

[flada]

When she was in the Navy, a lot of seamen were probably in her--but I think you mean semen.

[Peach]

I've read on this thread that the DNA on the stripper's fake nail was found on TOP of the plastic nail. Who reported that?

[maggief]

Good morning, Peach.

I heard Jeanine Pirro say that on Greta's show last night.

[Alia]

If you are charged, even tho not convicted, you can count on the Liberal MSM to dig it up. That you were "charged". Those "charges" NEVER go away. Even tho you've been found innocent.

[maggief]

Since when does a city manager become this involved in a criminal case ... and where is Police Chief Chalmers?

http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/439990.html


On Monday, Baker said he may be keeping close tabs on the lacrosse investigation, but he is qualified to do so based on his background as the assistant city attorney responsible for providing legal advice to the Police Department. Baker denied he was forced into day-to-day oversight of the investigation by the absence of Police Chief Steve Chalmers, who has been on leave attending to his gravely ill mother.

"My responsibilities as city manager include the Police Department," Baker said. "The reality is that if those men or women do something improper, then I will be the one held accountable for it. I don't want to be blindsided."

[Sacajaweau]

Peach: After hearing Cheshire speak of the nail, I could almost hear: If Freepers could see through your reporting, do you think WE wouldn't notice it as an imbiguous and misleading interpretation of the evidence.

The same thing with the "boyfriend" in quotes AND that was said by the mother...not even Crystal.

[Alia]

Thank you for the ping AND the info!

I'm catching up..