Posted on 05/15/2006 7:14:12 AM PDT by 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.
They didn't want the black dancers. So that meant they raped them?? "I'm a black woman in this community" so that means RAPE?????
Exactly what percentage of people give false names to an escort service? 90%?
The black woman is going off on Cheshire.
She's calling for a gag order! Like she can get one.
Is that a question from the media?
both lawyers say the defense has a great case and that they can't believe Nifong has refused to meet with Evans and to hear exculputory evidence...
Gag Order--yeah she doesn't want the world to know.
She says "We want this case to stay here in Durham."
She won't stop talking!
I don't even give my real name to the Pizza folks.
"Ma'am, please show me the same respect I showed you!"
OMG, this is great!
That black woman wants a gag order because she wants a lynch mob against these boys.
I've told my husband, it's crap like this that is hurting race relations in this country. And the blacks have no one to blame but themselves.
I use the name BJ Clinton when I call up the escort service. ;)
I love him!!!
He is laying at the feet of Nifong
Are you listening to this on local tv?
omg THESE PEOPLE ARE NUTS!!!!!! Nifong can't talk? He injected race. No defense lawyer spoke for 8 solid days. NUTS!!!!
Judge Nap changes his tune.
Yes. Digital cable!
Now he's saying to listen to this woman, and see what the people are trying to do to this case, turn it into a political case.
"It's one of the saddest things I've ever seen."
Who is this Black activist who will not shut up and asks Cheshire for a gag order. She needs a gag order. She won't let him answer!
Is that RL from the Court TV board asking that question?
Where is this still being carried; on that link posted upthread?
Were they SHHHH!! ing her?
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