Posted on 03/31/2006 8:03:52 PM PST by Howlin
DURHAM, N.C. - The father of the woman who has accused members of the Duke lacrosse team of sexually assaulting her said he didn't find out that his daughter was the reported victim - and that she is an exotic dancer - until a reporter visited his house.
The retired trucker who lives in Durham said he saw his daughter the day after the reported attack, but she didn't say anything was wrong. She even left her car at the house for several days because he said she didn't want to drive it.
Her father, a quiet man who tinkers on cars as a hobby, said he saw news reports about the attack.
"I didn't know it was my daughter," he said. The Charlotte Observer generally does not name victims of sexual assault, so his name is being withheld to protect the identity of his daughter.
The case has ignited campus protests and stirred racial tension in Durham. The woman at the center of the case is black, and the men she accuses are white. She also is a student at N.C. Central University, a historically black college near Durham's inner-city, compared with the more expensive Duke campus.
DNA tests have been conducted on 46 of the lacrosse players, who deny the allegations. A 47th member, who is black, was not tested because the woman said her attackers were white.
Last week, a reporter stopped by the reported victim's house looking for her, the woman's father said, but he said he didn't know what was going on. He called his daughter and she said the district attorney told her not talk to anyone.
"(She) didn't tell us anything about it," he said.
He said he also found out through the media that his daughter, who is the youngest of three, was an exotic dancer.
"She always told me she was going to work," he said.
On Friday, he installed a timing belt in a car and watched his daughter's two children play outside the house. He said working on cars and playing with the grandchildren helps take his mind off what's happening with his daughter.
He said she seems to be doing "pretty good," and so is the rest of the family. He said they haven't talked much about the reported incident, but it weighs heavily on his mind. He said he's grateful that N.C. Central has been so supportive, but he doesn't like how his daughter has been portrayed in the media. And he's especially frustrated that no one has been charged in the connection with the allegations.
"If it had been anybody but them, they would have been locked up, but yet they didn't because it's Duke," he said. "I hope them boys - if they did it - I hope they get what they deserve. I hope they don't go lenient on them."
District Attorney Michael Nifong said he's waiting for results of the DNA test and that he does not expect to file charges in the case any earlier than next week.
Did he know she was working as a stripper and an escort too?
The more I hear about this case the more I think something stinks.
This seems more a media effort to rehab the case.
At one point the MSM was drooling over a white men gang rape a black woman. Now it may be falling appart (lower ratings) so they are spining it.
I think the DA was trying to intimidate via media and now that it failed they are engaged in CYA.
The only cooperate that will save the DA is a confession.
I just heard it last night ----the girl said she was called the "N" word and sounded if she was going to cry. I doubt I heard the entire thing,but I would love to.
Why on earth would anyone call 911 just for being called a racial slur? Seems like a "set up" call to me.
The lawyers accused Nifong of backpedaling by rushing to get DNA samples, but saying in the media this week that a negative DNA test result doesn't prove innocence.
"We're doing the ol' two-step," attorney Williams said.
Cheshire also questioned Nifong's motivations. Nifong, who is seeking re-election, faces two challengers in a May 2 Democratic primary. "We all know there's a political race going on over there," Cheshire said.
He added that the lawyers and the team members will "embrace" the DNA. "We can't wait until it comes back," he said.
The attention has created a "lynch-mob mentality," he said, mentioning fliers with players' photos, signs posted on their house and accusatory statements by professors in class. He emphasized that this was transpiring on a university campus, typically a liberal atmosphere.
"The same people who would be screaming and yelling about constitutional freedoms are out there ignoring them," he said.
Lawyers for Duke team
lash out at district attorney
'Lynch-mob mentality' cited
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/breaking_news/14228952.htm
http://www.newsobserver.com/1185/story/423877.html
It's the call at 12:53 a.m.
Be sure to listen to what she says: she drove by, she walked by, she drove by, and then all of a sudden she says "I'm parked right in front of the house." or something like that.
Why would she park right in front of a house where she says people verbally assaulted her.
And the police arrived there two minutes after her call; she was nowhere to be found.
Yes, but it doesn't sound like he's gonna do that
Will the white community dance in the streets if the players beat the rap in the same manner as OJ? NO.
I'd also like to add to all that while we condemn the rush to judgement we need to be mindful of not rushing to judgement on the possible victim. From what little we know it almost all points to the players as being either guilty or assault (or worse) or participating in a cover up of a possible felony. At this point either the boys get shot or she does but the crime in both outcomes get worse by the day IMHO.
Those "accusatory statements by professors in class" are waaaaay over the line. Disciplinary action should be taken on such faculty imo.
They have all talked to the police. Before they got attorneys.
They have.
Perhaps I'm wrong in that. I thought the DNA was more or less obligatory. Most of what I've been reading is that they are not talking to the police. I see that for the main few but for the rest of the team? Who knows but it doesn't strike me as very credible.
Two weeks, which would be -- tada -- two weeks before May primary!
They voluntarily gave at the Duke Hospital. Most of them offered to take lie detector tests, but the police said no.
Most of what I've been reading is that they are not talking to the police.
That is not true.
I see that for the main few but for the rest of the team?
They have ALL talked to the police.
Do you have a reference? I haven't read that but it would certainly be welcome news. It would also tend to push me back toward the middle in my speculation. As with everything else I wish I knew more.
I think they all gave DNA voluntarily. You can't just go around with a big net collecting DNA samples from every male in the entire population. Wasn't that tried or suggested in a New England town a few years ago?
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