Stevens doesn't have to show character. All he has to do is realize where this is all going. If he has any brains he will do the right thing.
However, this is Durham. He may be owned.
If he has any self respect he won't let Himan get away with playing him for a fool.
You are right Stephens does not need to show character. He needs to show brains. This case has gone from a political plus for his boy Nifong to a huge liability for Nifong and Durham in general.
Stephens acted dumb in the first setting but clearly as our "Mike Nifong" has showed sure knew a lot about that phone that the real world Mike Nifong was not even sure the police had.
I was not at all impressed with Stephens in the first hearing on this case. I went in neutral towards him and came out suspicious of him. But hopefully he can see that keeping this case going will only make matters worse.
What they need to do is drop the charges. Destroy the evidence of whatever it is they are trying to hide before a civil suit is filed and hope the world soon forgets about Durham.