'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

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

How does this result in a fair trial? Also, why is it taking so long to get into court?

[abb]

Up until Osmond Smith was appointed presiding judge, Nifong controlled the calendar...

[Ken H]

Liestoppers shreds Patrick Baker's spin in the Herald-Sun article before the ink has dried:

http://liestoppers.blogspot.com/2006/10/accidental-outcry-witness-60-minutes.html

[RecallMoran]

He said words to the effect that there wer eallegations of racial epithets being made by ALL parties, but that in no version of any story are the 3 defendants involved in that. Came across on the broadcast as "you don't know what you are talking about, Katie" smackdown.

[VRWCtaz]

I saw a very streetwise young woman who is not uncomfortable in the spotlight (pun intended)and has realized that this case is about to implode on Nifong. Her only hope, therefore, of profiting from this situation is to come clean and stick with the truth.

[bjc]

Exactly. It looks like Durham will be footing the bill for the defense. "Oh, what tangled webs we weave...."

[darbymcgill]

All that is true, except I read something on here last night about Mangum saying maybe she deposited the money.....I think that's what I read.

Yah.... It was the same statement where she accused Kim of stealing her money and her cell phone. It was the same statement where she said she was raped by 5 guys. Who ya gonna believe?

I think the first 911 call was a diversion by Kim to set up the guys at the party because she knew then she was going to rip off the AV. Why would she put in her police report that she asked the AV 3 or 4 times if she had her money. But I don't recall he mentioning that part of the event in any of her other interviews. That part of her statement has always seemed odd to me.

[abb]

This just in...

http://media.www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2006/10/13/News/Indicted.Lax.Players.To.Speak.On.60.Minutes-2349500.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dukechronicle.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com
Indicted lax players to speak on '60 Minutes'

http://media.www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2006/10/13/News/Lax-Players.Work.To.Get.Out.Vote-2349515.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dukechronicle.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com
Lax players work to get out vote
Student group hosts BBQ, DA candidate

[abb]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/LegalCenter/story?id=2562254
Second Exotic Dancer in Duke Lacrosse Case Says Alleged Victim Was 'Fine'
New Interview May Affect Prosecution's Case

[gopheraj]

mark

[abb]

http://www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2006/10/13/News/Times.Up.Voter.Registration.Closes.Today-2349519.shtml?norewrite200610130851&sourcedomain=www.dukechronicle.com
Time's up: Voter registration closes today
Durham citizens have say in 2 major races

[abb]

http://www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2006/10/13/Letters/Administrators.Should.Not.Discourage.Protest-2349544.shtml?norewrite200610130928&sourcedomain=www.dukechronicle.com
Administrators should not discourage protest

[ltc8k6]

I don't know about a change of heart, but the simplest reason for Kim to tell the truth is what the AV said about her.

[abb]

It's the only way out for her. She knows the Fonger is wounded and the jackals are circling. She's got enough street smarts to figure that out...

[Neverforget01]

Thanks so much for the ping and all the incredible work you've done on this case. You have managed to keep the focus on this hoax on FR and I'm sure the families are grateful.

Kim Roberts may have dropped a bombshell on 60 minutes, but we all know she's a liar. I just hope the boys make their case. Their story has never changed unlike the strippers'. They should do well, since telling the truth is so much easier than trying to pass off lies.

[Fido969]

Couric saying "something must have happened in that house"?

Ahhh, yes... Katie and her sleazy little sniping. The country is really getting sick of that nitwit.

[don'tbedenied]

Even ABC is skeptical calling Precious the AV. By the way, Kim called the rape allegations a "crock" in her first police interview. I like the way ABC/MSM is spinning this as a changed story. Apparently they (along with City Manager Baker) are going to spin this as the Durham Police and the media were taken in by lies.

[abb]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,220481,00.html
Second Duke Stripper Refutes More of Alleged Rape Victim's Claims

[JLS]

Baker is certainly retreating with his statements in this Herald Sun article. Of course how is "crock" different than what Pittman [aka Roberts] said on the 60 Minutes tease?

[JLS]

I thought she was supposed to be on home detention. Why isn't she wearing an ankle bracelet? I don't see one in the photo of her with Ed Bradley.

Actually her home detention does not start for a few days yet.