The two eyeball witness statements were taken almost a year after the incident.
Why? Then the accuser might have grounds to sue the Tallahassee PD for violating her rights.
“The complainant could sue the Tallahassee Police Department”
In addition to suing Winston, the complainant could also sue the Tallahassee Police Department. Specifically, she could file a civil rights claim under Section 1983 of Title 42 of the U.S. Code. Victims of domestic violence have used this law to sue police departments. The complainant could argue that the Tallahassee Police Department, and specifically detective Scott Angulo, intimidated and harassed her. She could say the police dissuaded her from implicating Winston because of Winston’s importance to the Seminoles and the Tallahassee community. She could also highlight arguable missteps by the Tallahassee Police Department, including curiously waiting 10 months to test DNA and not immediately interviewing all the key witnesses, as evidence the police wanted to impede her case.
This ain’t over yet, I suspect. As a veteran observer of the Duke Lacrosse Frame of 2006, I’ve followed dozens of these athlete/sex/alleged rapes cases since.
The media meme here is 180 degrees from Durham.
I agree the DA did not have sufficient evidence to charge Winston, let alone secure a conviction.
However, the evidence here is greater than what Nifong had against the lacrosse players by a factor of 100.
But if the Lax case had gone to trial, there would have been a conviction.