[Howlin]

It's kicking into high gear now; full front page of the News & Observer, complete with picture of the house and map of the area, along with the headline:

Any lacrosse charges 10 days away
DNA Tests: Prosecutors do not intend to release DNA test results.

District Attorney Mike Nifong said Friday that no charges will be filed in the investigation of a report of rape at a Duke University lacrosse party until at least the week of April 10. He also said he won't release DNA results that had been expected next week.

The tests, which are comparing the DNA of 46 lacrosse players with samples taken from the accuser as well as from towels, rags and rugs in the house where the party was held, could be completed next week, Nifong said.

But Nifong said he had no plans to announce the state's evidence before a trial.

"That's just not how we do business, and I would not anticipate that we would treat this case any differently," Nifong said in an interview.

Prominent Raleigh lawyer Joseph B. Cheshire V, who represents one of the team captains, said it isn't fair for Nifong to publicly talk about the case and whether the players were involved, and then not reveal the test results. The captains' attorneys have said they expect the team to be cleared by DNA.

"He'll say whatever he wants to say in public, but he won't say in public what the evidence is," Cheshire said. "Historically, the standard has been in Durham that prosecutors don't go out and call people guilty before they get all the evidence against them."

Um, why?

Article at N&O

Walkers on Duke University's East Campus peer over a stone wall where a woman says members of the school's lacrosse team sexually assaulted her last month. The Durham district attorney says he won't release DNA test results

[Mo1]

But Nifong said he had no plans to announce the state's evidence before a trial

Ummm ... has this dude every heard of a thing called Discovery??

[Brytani]

Isn't that special. He's convicted the entire team publically but now isn't going to charge for another week and won't release the DNA tests?

Good thing is that one of the players lawyers can force the release of the DNA test results. Also, if this DA gets a DNA match, you bet he's going to hand it over to the defense atty of the accused. If the DA doesn't his a$$ will be handed to him during discovery.

Interesting isn't it that first he says DNA doesn't matter, now he says he won't release the tests.