[Ninian Dryhope]

The case against the Duke players is worthless. The good lawyers that the player have hired will tear this case up. There is no chance that anyone will be found guilty of rape in this case.

[Verginius Rufus]

Nifong can win if he can stack the jury with 12 individuals who don't need any evidence beyond the accuser's say-so, or who don't care if these particular white boys are guilty, but see a chance for pay-back for all the times in the past 350 years that black men were falsely accused.

Obviously the defense lawyers will try to prevent people like that from becoming part of the jury, but I don't trust the judge--he has a prior relationship with Nifong. I don't see why he hasn't been forced to recuse himself from the case.

[FreedomPoster]

Unless they were to get reverse-OJed by a Durham jury.

[SauronOfMordor]

The case against the Duke players is worthless. The good lawyers that the player have hired will tear this case up. There is no chance that anyone will be found guilty of rape in this case.

For the $400K bail, you have to pay 10% to the bail bondsman, which you do NOT get back, so they're out 40K up front EACH. Their defense lawyer costs will probably cost their parents their homes. This is all REGARDLESS of if the verdict is not guilty, or if the charges are quietly dropped before prosecution.

NiFong is probably offering them a plea bargain that will avoid the trail, and associated costs. The kids will be stupid to take it, because pleading guilty in the criminal case will wipe them out in the ensuing civil suit

[pepsionice]

Nifong needs this case to wrap up after the elections in November...otherwise...people might not want to vote for him (although there is virtually no one running against the guy). I think he already considers this a lost cause...and is just doing it for local press coverage now. The more national media that shows up...the worse the situation gets...because they tend to ask more questions than the local guys...and follow leads.