Posted on 09/22/2006 1:20:40 PM PDT by Howlin
Three Duke lacrosse players took five to 10 minutes to sexually assault a woman hired to perform as a stripper at a team party, and not the 30 minutes she originally described to investigators, a prosecutor said Friday. "When something happens to you that is really awful, it can seem like it takes place longer than it actually takes," District Attorney Mike Nifong said.
Nifong's comments came as Superior Court Judge W. Osmond Smith III denied a defense request that prosecutors provide a detailed accounting of the alleged assault, including the exact time, place and type of sexual act the accuser said each defendant committed.
A grand jury has indicted three lacrosse players _ Reade Seligmann, 20; Collin Finnerty, 19; and David Evans, 23 _ on charges of rape, kidnapping and sexual offense. The accuser, a student at nearby North Carolina Central University, told police she was raped in a bathroom by three men at a March 13 off-campus party. Defense attorneys have strongly proclaimed the players' innocence.
Kirk Osborn, who represents Seligmann, said the defense needed the "bill of particulars" because the accuser has told several different versions of the alleged assault, and his client has a right to know which version prosecutors will present at trial. In search and arrest warrants issued early in the investigation, police stated the accuser told investigators she was assaulted for 30 minutes.
Nifong said he is not required to state the exact time of the alleged attack, but offered that authorities believe it took place between 11:30 p.m. on March 13, when the accuser arrived at the party, and 12:55 a.m. on March 14, when police arrived and found no one at the house.
Friday's hearing was the first since Smith was appointed to take over the case, and it was scheduled to continue Friday afternoon.
Before the hearing began, Nifong gave defense lawyers 615 pages of evidence, a compact disc and a cassette tape. He said it included much of what was requested by defense lawyers, who had asked for handwritten notes from police officers involved with the case, reports outlining procedures used at the labs that tested the DNA of the players and notes from a mental health facility where police took the accuser after the party.
And THAT is the scary thing about it. Most people aren't blessed enough to have the money & connections these boys do. And Nifong presses on. They're still being railroaded. Imagine what would happen to the average person. I don't know what the climate is there now, but the people of Durham better be caring about this. They could be next.
Nifong deserves to be put in general population of state prison. He is beneath contempt. I can't believe he continues to get away with what he's doing.
Maybe we can get that CNN babe to interview Nifong? With any luck he will commit suicide and the Duke case will collapse with all the air let out of the windbag!
The problem with that is that on the one hand Nifong has to argue that Precious is so traumatized that she can't remember most of the details but she is also clear-headed enough to remember who attacked her -two with 100% certainty, and one with 90% certainty. She has also been specific about what they did - way after the fact of course. She can also clearly remember so many details about the party - who was where, who was watching television and what people were wearing. But she seems to be confused about what room she "danced" in. She's traumatized and clearheaded all at the same time. Wow.
The Anna Nicole defense?
beth karas courttv
more discovery 10/20. court date 10/27.
new affadavit from poll recipeint. not fong's wife. different person..
john bourlon. god what a wig...
still puking up fong's koolaid. says poll "poison's jury pool."
wonder if mrs fong's questions agree with new affadavit?
Not a fair question!!!
60 minutes on 10/1 according to karas.
judge modified gag to lawyers only!!
The players speak!!!!!
THIS HAS BEEN A MEDIA TRIAL FROM DAY ONE! IT STILL IS!!
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