'60 Minutes' interviews Duke lacrosse defendants (DukeLax Ping)

Durham Herald-Sun ^ | October 11, 2006 | John Stevenson

[abb]

DURHAM -- A CBS "60 Minutes" segment on the controversial Duke University lacrosse rape case is expected to air Sunday evening and will include interviews with all three indicted players and Kim Roberts Pittman, the second dancer at the party where the attack allegedly occurred.

CBS would not comment on the show. The network's normal practice is to withhold information about "60 Minutes" broadcasts until a few days in advance.

But Pittman's lawyer, Mark Simeon of Durham, confirmed Tuesday that his client was interviewed. But Simeon ended a telephone conversation before fielding a question about what Pittman told the interviewer.

An exotic dancer at the time, Pittman was with another dancer who claimed she was raped and sodomized by three lacrosse players during an off-campus party at 610 N. Buchanan Blvd. in mid-March.

Pittman since has been quoted as saying the rape charges were "a crock." She also told police in a March 22 handwritten statement that she and the accuser ended their performance when someone at the lacrosse party "brought out a broomstick and ... said he would use the broomstick on us."

"That statement made me uncomfortable and I felt like I wanted to leave," Pittman added. "I raised my voice to the boys and said the show was over."

Pittman said she then asked the alleged rape victim to leave the party with her. But she said the accuser "felt we could get more money and that we shouldn't leave yet."

According to Pittman, the accuser "began showing signs of intoxication" early in the dance performance and was "basically out of it" by the time it ended.

Pittman finally drove the other dancer to a Hillsborough Road grocery store, from which a 911 call was placed to police.

There is nothing about an alleged rape in Pittman's written statement, which is included in public-record court files.

All three defendants also were interviewed for the "60 Minutes" segment, sources told The Herald-Sun. The interviewer is veteran reporter Ed Bradley.

The three -- Collin Finnerty, Reade Seligmann and David Evans -- remain free under $100,000 bonds as they await a trial that is expected to occur next year. Each maintains he is innocent.

Neither they nor their families could be reached Tuesday for possible comment about the CBS show, and their attorneys had no comment.

Defense lawyers apparently will not appear on the television program. Neither will District Attorney Mike Nifong, who has been widely criticized for allegedly rushing to judgment in the case and making inflammatory public statements before he had sufficient evidence.

For the past four months, Nifong has not discussed the situation publicly. He was out of town on business and unreachable for comment Tuesday.

Benjamin Himan and Mark Gottlieb, police investigators in the lacrosse case, also could not be reached. But sources said the two had not been interviewed by "60 Minutes" as of Friday.

The Police Department repeatedly has declined to discuss the lacrosse incident.

It could not be determined Tuesday if a one-time driver for the alleged rape victim, Jarriel Lanier Johnson, was among those Bradley contacted.

"I have nothing to say about it," Johnson told The Herald-Sun by telephone before hanging up.

But Johnson gave police an April 6 handwritten statement about an "appointment," "a job" and a performance the accuser had at three different hotels in two days not long before the alleged rape.

Johnson also said she had sexual intercourse with him during the same time period.

URL for this article: http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-777449.html

[ltc8k6]

[ltc8k6]

The other photo is supposed to be Bradley with his assistant, but it sure looks like Kim in the same outfit.

Thanks to x's & o's

Links below in case the pics didn't show

http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2006/10/11/image2082226g.jpg

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5033/3266/1600/Hi%2C%20Mikey%21.jpg

[ltc8k6]

http://crystalmess.blogspot.com/2006/09/mr-nifong-mr-bradley-mr-bradley-mr.html

[GAgal]

Defense sends Nifong a 12 page letter:

http://www.wral.com/slideshow/dukelacrosse/10054511/detail.html

[pepperhead]

Where was the barf alert?

[Sue Perkick]

I agree. Quality is not as good on the second picture but it looks like Kim to me. Definately looks like the same outfit.

[ltc8k6]

Sorry about that.

Same shirt, scarf, belt, skirt, hairdo....to me.

[pepperhead]

LOL they are calling out Linwood Wilson now.

[JLS]

In a case this complex, it is beyond credibility to believe that Nifong, who is going to personally prosecute this case, would not have any notes or reports. Once again, this smells.

Like any criminal committing a crime Nifong is trying to set up his defense if charged. He knew from the start this was a political prosecution that the policed did not believe Mangum. Thus he:

1. went the grand jury route rather than charged them himself to reduce his exposure.

2. very likely did not make any notes or at least official notes about what Mangum said in their meetings.

After all what she said could only cause him problems later, he knew he would have to shape her testimony. And this is not a complex case to Nifong, this is his election strategy that he cares alot about. He likely did not need notes. A prosecutor might need notes about one of many cases he was handling. A DA up for election his first time certainly does not notes on his election strategy, he knows that by heart as it is near and dear to him personally.

[Ken H]

KC Johnson and Liestoppers weigh in on the latest defense motion:

http://durhamwonderland.blogspot.com/2006/10/new-defense-motion.html

http://liestoppers.blogspot.com/2006/10/caught-by-his-own-words.html

[Ken H]

TJN's take on the day's events:

http://johnsville.blogspot.com/2006/10/duke-case-today-in-hoax-land.html

Melanie and Linda still getting shellacked:

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/editor/index.php?blog=19&c=1&page=1&more=1&title=march_25_interview&tb=1&pb=1&disp=single

[jennyd]

I believe it is Kim. Outfit looks exactly the same to me. The belt, the blouse, the skirt, the hair. Apparently Bradley was out with Kim.

[Dukie07]

I wonder if they had a room......

[Dukie07]

Looks like Kimmie's interview was done at WaDu. How sick is that?

[jennyd]

I don't know about that, but they both look very happy. Kim is all smiles. Bradley is smiling too.
Oh boy.

[jennyd]

Nothing should surprise me about this case anymore, but this does.

[darbymcgill]

Apparently Bradley was out with Kim.

I wonder how he coded his expense account... Nah.. I won't go there...

[Dukie07]

I gotta say, unless Kim comes out on the interview and says, unequivocally, that NOTHING HAPPENED IN THAT HOUSE - I can't even imagine what the reaction of the alums is going to be....... the interview was at WaDu. Look at the upholstery on Mr. Bradley's chair in the pic with Kim, then look at this http://www.washingtondukeinn.com/dining_vista.html

[jennyd]

Nifong can't give interviews. Lawyers are covered by the judges' ruling. Witnesses are not covered anymore. But Nifong can't give interviews.

[jennyd]

What is their reaction going to be? What was it up until now?
I don't see many alums concerned about what's going on with this case.