Posted on 04/18/2006 3:26:57 AM PDT by Mad-Margaret
DURHAM -- A day after a grand jury indicted two Duke University lacrosse players in connection with a reported rape, two men emerged from a sheriff's deputy vehicle and were led, handcuffed, into the magistrates office at the Durham County Jail at 4:54 a.m. today.
The arrests stem from a party that began March 13. The accuser, who is a mother of two, an N.C. Central University student and an escort service dancer, told police March 14 that she was sexually assaulted by three men in a bathroom at an off-campus house shared by three lacrosse team captains. The accuser is black; she said her rapists were white.
Defense lawyers said players maintained that there was no sex at all. They said the accuser concocted the story, that she was drunk and injured late March 13 when she arrived at the three-bedroom house at 610 N. Buchanan Blvd.
"... Two young men have been charged with crimes they did not commit. This is a tragedy," Bob Ekstrand, who represents team players, said Monday in a prepared statement. "For the two young men, an ordeal lies ahead. They do not face it alone; they face it with the love of family and friends and strengthened by the truth. They are both innocent."
Superior Court Judge Ronald Stephens sealed a manila envelope containing the indictments shortly after the grand jury finished its business Monday. The judge cited a state law that requires everyone involved in a case, including witnesses, to keep the indictment secret until a suspect is arrested.
Last month, a judge ordered DNA tests on the team's 46 white players; he excluded the only black team member. The players' attorneys say the tests showed none of the players' genetic material on or in the woman.
Nifong, bolstered by a medical exam that found injuries on the woman consistent with sexual assault, says he is confident that she was assaulted in the university-owned house. Nifong said last week at a forum at NCCU that the accuser identified at least one of her attackers.
Until Sunday night, the only other witness, the second woman hired to dance at the party, had remained silent. In television interviews, she told her story.
The woman's attorney, Mark Simeon of Durham, declined Monday to make her available for an interview. She spoke on the MSNBC cable news network, which did not identify her and showed her in silhouette. Simeon confirmed that it was his client on MSNBC.
The woman told MSNBC that she did not witness a rape and does not know whether one occurred.
The woman said she arrived thinking that she would be dancing at a bachelor party of 15 people. She was not expecting a party of lacrosse players, many of whom she said were in a drunken stupor. The woman said she was infuriated to learn that some players photographed her dancing.
The accuser did not appear to be on drugs or to have been drinking when she arrived, the second dancer said. She was "absolutely fine and in control of herself."
When the accuser left, less than an hour after she arrived, she was incoherent and stumbling, the second dancer said.
"She couldn't really walk on her own," the woman said. "She really couldn't get her thoughts together enough to answer any questions. ... She was a different person than I met at the beginning."
The second woman said she was the person who called 911 as the party was breaking up, to complain that some lacrosse players had used racial slurs. "The boys hollered the 'N' word," she said. "I was upset and called 911."
She said she pretended to be a passer-by because she didn't want people in her life to know about her job as an escort service dancer.
It is unclear how that woman's story would affect the case. Players' attorneys have said she would only help them. By day's end Monday, Nifong left without talking to reporters; it remains unclear what evidence he has.
Throughout Monday, there were many more reporters on the sixth floor of the courthouse than the 18 members of the grand jury panel. Reporters tracked the district attorney's movements in minute detail. Just after noon, Nifong emerged from his office and walked across the hallway to the bathroom.
Reporters surrounded the bathroom door in a crowd that included five television cameras, three still photographers, sound men with boom microphones and at least a dozen print reporters. At the sound of flushing, the group tensed, raised cameras and prepared. Nifong did not emerge with news.
"I no longer get to go anywhere in my community without people knowing who I am," said Nifong, who faces two challengers in a primary election May 2. Staff writer Anne Blythe can be reached at 932-8741 or ablythe@newsobserver.com.
I am inclined to agree with you at this point.
In the pictures, she is in her "outfit" and then at Kroger's she obviously is fully dressed.
Where did she change clothes.
GHB (G, Grievous Bodily Harm, Goob, Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X), 1-2 days
http://www.ohsinc.com/how_long_do_drugs_stay_in_your_system.htm
From what I've read on GHB you remain high for 4-6 hours.
GHB has been used in the commission of sexual assaults because it renders the victim incapable of resisting, and may cause memory problems that could complicate case prosecution.
http://www.dea.gov/concern/ghb_factsheet.html
According to the evidence, she resisted the assault, that is how she lost her fingernails.
Stop trolling and baiting. It's unbecoming. Surely someone who has something so horrible going on with one of their own family members can understand the "presumption of innocence until convicted in a court of law" concept. Unless your anectdote was, well, not true.
So this lasted 41mins with a 27min gap.....the 27min gap is crucial....
He made his bond hearing this morning; they next one will be his arraignment.
I think they are going to ask for a speedy trial.
In Durham.
"Your ignorance is showing."
Lemme guess....you have a full understanding of the case?
Presence of mind to know she was raped, and good enough recall to ID the alleged assailants. How does that work? I can't remember anything because I was drugged. Yet I remember who did it to me, and of course it's the one who has the most reason to squeal because of recent assault charges.
Thanks for the timeline. Is there an independent corroboration of the time line. For example, a cross check to cell phone, another witness, a photo of a clock? Anything to support the hours?
Google "nifong"...We live here in this state and his incompetence is not news to us.
No. It's the 7 minute gap between pictures of her smiling and on the ground.
The pictures telll the story.
>>I do care about the fact that there must be other facts the police are privy to - or else they wouldn't be pursuing the case.
You appear to have much unfounded faith in the DA and the police. And little knowledge of the many *facts* that are public about this case.
>>This tells me that they think he doesn't know what he [the DA] is doing...which tells me they think they know better.
I think he knows exactly what he's doing. He's trying to get re-elected, and is creating a politically charged case to do it.
Do you have reason to think otherwise? I'd be interested to hear your logic.
Or do you just have faith in "other facts"?
I suggest faith is best left for deities, and not governmental officials.
Hi
Has Nifong ever said when it was that the "dancer" ID'd any suspects?
Thanks. I keep seeing video of Finnerty sitting in a courtroom, but none of Seligmann. I wondered if his lawyer wanted a special hearing, but apparently not.
Law enforcement had nothing to do with that perp walk.
The defense made an agreement with the JUDGE to bring them in at that time of morning just so they could avoid a dog and pony show with Nifong as the ring master.
Are you here to smear the parents?
The photos are said to be in tune with wristwatches of players showing the time.
"Stop trolling and baiting. It's unbecoming. Surely someone who has something so horrible going on with one of their own family members can understand the "presumption of innocence until convicted in a court of law" concept. Unless your anectdote was, well, not true."
Oh I get it.
Because I am not falling in line with your presumptions based on incomplete facts...then that automatically makes me the type of person who would lie about my circumstances.
Why am I not surprised at your astounding "logic"?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.