Duke rape case set for 2007

Toronto Star ^ | May 19, 2006. 07:02 AM | staff

[Perdogg]

DURHAM, N.C.—One of three Duke University lacrosse players charged with rape wants the case resolved in time for the next school year, his lawyer said in court yesterday. But the judge warned he will not fast-track the proceedings.

The case "is not going to jump ahead of the line and be handled any differently," Superior Court Judge Ronald L. Stephens said at a hearing for sophomore Reade Seligmann.

After the brief hearing, District Attorney Mike Nifong said he does not expect any trial to begin before next year.

[Locomotive Breath]

Yeah but the key is that since the defense doesn't actually know what he has, he can suppress evidence favorable to the defense and not have anyone be able to call him on it. Convicted people get out of jail all the time when it turns out the prosecutor or police have suppressed evidence.

[Locomotive Breath]

It would not surprise me.

[Hardastarboard]

this gives us all a year to drag Nifong through the mud.

He's a modern, attention-seeking prosecuting attorney. That's like dragging a pig through the mud. It won't bother him in the slightest. If he were Elliot Spitzer, he would threaten you with prosecution for maligning him. There are days when I think the knuckle-draggers at DU are right, that we do live in a fascist country, but not because of President Bush.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

I am wondering...if this is status quo for Durham, who is going to hold his feet to the fire?

Think about it----At this point what is the worst thing that can happen for Nifong? NOTHING.

Nifong drags his feet and uses every delay tactic at his disposal.

The election comes and goes and Nifong is elected DA. They go to trial and the boys are either aquitted or found guilty. (I cannot even concieve of those boys being found guilty, but it is a very real, very scary possibility).

It's a win - win for Nifong. If he drags this out until after the election, who cares?

When the boys are aquitted, there will be enough time before the next election (mayor?)to bring forth more sacrifical lambs. If the boys are not aquitted, the better for him.

Granted, much of this depends on the trial Judge.

This is about power and corruption. There is a major power struggle going on in Durham and one side saw an opportunity. AV is a pawn and the boys are the sacrifice.

The only thing they did not count on was the K Street gang.

BTW-look for Duke embrace reparations in the form of $$$$ to NCCU. Maybe in the next few years. Just a gut feeling.

[Krodg]

Yeah, the supposed attack happened on the 14th and the search warrant and recovery happened on the 16th. Where was the phone between the supposed attack and police recovery?? I think the boys tried to call the cell phone and the defense wants those records.

[Krodg]

I'm not quite sure why you pinged Howlin to your post since she has nothing to do with what I post.

I cannot speak for anyone but myself...yes, I believe the DA will twist and hide evidence to his benefit.

[Publius22]

This is about power and corruption. There is a major power struggle going on in Durham and one side saw an opportunity. AV is a pawn and the boys are the sacrifice.

They all look like uberlib Dems to me. I can't tell who struggling with whom.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Infighting. King of the Hill.

[Publius22]

It's amazing the desire that some people have to be King of the Hill, no matter how small that hill is, or even if they destroy the hill in the process.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Go figure.
Power at any cost

On another front "The Kum-Bah-Yah Chorus" has started.

There is a movement underfoot in Durham for Duke and NCCU to learn sensitivity, understanding. They will learn all they need is love"

They will end in a group rendition of :

Come on people, now
Smile on your brother,
Everybody get together,
Try to love one another
Right now

---

http://herald-sun.com/durham/4-736278.html

Student leaders at Duke, NCCU work to forge bonds

pbonner@heraldsun.com
May 18, 2006 : 8:15 pm ET (excerpted)

DURHAM -- While much of the news coverage of the Duke lacrosse case has highlighted differences between Duke and N.C. Central University, student leaders at both campuses have been laying the groundwork for closer collaboration in the future................

.........."It was completely student driven," Longoria said of that and subsequent meetings. "It was pretty clear from the beginning that we want to work together."
NCCU students then hosted a dinner at their campus for 25 student leaders from each university. They didn't discuss the particulars of the lacrosse allegations but did talk for about two hours on campus issues generally.

"It took a horrible event to point out the fact that there could be more interaction," Longoria said.

........... Some at NCCU, with its more urban setting, said their counterparts at the more insular Duke could benefit from seeing how the campuses' settings affect students' experience and outlook, he said. ...........

......They talked about further get-togethers, perhaps for athletic and other social events, Longoria said. And they discussed how each school might help the other match volunteers with community service opportunities. NCCU requires its students to perform 120 hours of community service. Duke encourages but doesn't require community service, with some campus leaders arguing that making it mandatory might also make it less meaningful.

"I felt like it was about time that Duke and NCCU met," said Onuma, adding that he's used Duke's library.

"Academically, we do a great deal together," he said. "Socially, there's kind of a divide." ..........

---

Major barforama.
The whole time I read that article I pictured UGa [Go Dawgs!] and gatech [those damned bumblebees, Swat! I got one.] getting to know each other and learning about their different social habits.

And then I ROTFLMFAO!!!!

[writmeister]

What about a writ of prohibition?

I think the defense would have difficulty prevailing on a writ of prohibition because they would have to show a clear abuse of discretion, which is a difficult standard to meet.

[writmeister]

Not to defend Nifong, but under the caselaw analyzing the Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial, a delay of one year is not usually a violation,

[bjc]

I will say again, this is the behavior of a sociopath. Imagine Nifong in Germany between the wars!!

[TommyDale]

I think the boys tried to call the cell phone and the defense wants those records.

What would have been the purpose in that? Maybe she called the pimp or her next "date" from the bathroom while she was locked in their "doing her nails" for 27 minutes.

[I_Like_Spam]

There is probably a pretty big backlog of criminal cases in Durham, I ain't suprised that the case won't be heard for a long time.

The real miscreant in this case is the DA.

Whatever motivated this prostitute to make the bogus complaint, she can't back out now as the DA got the dirt on her for car theft, maybe drugs, prostitution or other charges as well.

If she doesn't play Mr. Nifong's game, she is definitely screwed, and that was the reason for picking up the cabbie on the old warrant- a signal to the prostitute.

[GAgal]

I think you described what will happen to a Pure-T.

Nifong will be unscathed. The little liberal Dem pond he presides over will applaud his handling of this case. I've felt for weeks he is pathological, as nothing else explains who he is and what he's done.

[Rheo]

My guess would be Lavonia Allison.

[Publius22]

There is probably a pretty big backlog of criminal cases in Durham, I ain't suprised that the case won't be heard for a long time.

The following quote is from one of xo's posts. The link he provided to the Herald Sun article no longer works.

"Nifong said plea deals must remain a fact of life, since Durham takes in 70,000 criminal cases a year at all court levels, while time and personnel restraints allow only 50 to 70 felonies to be tried annually."

It's rather hard to believe that only 70 felony cases reach trial in Durham each year.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

HEADS UP!!!!! COUSIN JAKKI ON H&C TONIGHT

And she does look like a he...

[connectthedots]

Since there is no evidence implicating the accused, I think there is a legal basis for a writ of prohibition; but it would not be politically expedient.