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.
Handcuffed? Looks like an unnessary prep walk orchestrated by the prosecutor's re-election hopes.
So, if there's no genetic material on or in the woman, on what grounds can they even take these two men into custody? It's like lack of evidence means nothing anymore.
ping
I am really unhappy with the legal system these days.
This is nothing more then a political ploy.
Oops...
I've seen nothing thus far to refute what you're saying. The DA is dancing.
CNN just reported that the defense had been told that the arrests would be made at about 4 this morning.
There's supposed to be a magistrate's hearing later this morning and the indictments will be unsealed at that time. At this point, we don't know the identity of the players or the charges against them.
Is there a broad definition of rape that does not include any skin to skin contact?
Was Nifong actually pretending to complain about this?
He should be prosecuted for his handling of this, regardless of whether any of the allegations are proven to be true.
Thought crime? Carter had lust in his heart. Book 'em Dano.
It’s possible the accuser picked them out from a photo lineup – but that would be meaningless in court because she saw all the men at the party.
Mark.
The circumstancial case for being drugged seems possible. Still, the 4am perp walk is quite melodramatic.
>>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. >>
Interesting. It would also be interesting to see the tox screen. If (hypothetically) there was GHB or Rohypnol etc in her system that could had led to suspicion.
They're showing the perp walk - of sorts - now. Nothing real dramatic. Fox has annoounced their names, and one of them is also up on assault charges in Washington, D.C..
Neither reside at the Buchanan property, so that puts Wendy Murphy's theory to rest. Thank heaven for small blessings.
Right. These fellows all cooperated with providing DNA samples and have attorneys. Ordinarily someone in that position is given a summons to voluntarily appear in court during working hours to be arraigned, instead of pre-5:00 AM arrest with cuffs and perp walk. Totally ridiculous, and besmirches the justice process.
Fox is reporting the names of the players arrested.
Duke Lacrosse Players Reade Seligman, Collin Finnerty In Custody
Two Lacrosse Players Surrender To Durham Authorities
http://www.wral.com/news/8790097/detail.html
Pretty much the same story as this, at WRAL.
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