Lab in lacrosse case found many DNA sources (DUKELAX)

The News and Observer ^ | December 13, 2006 | Joseph Neff and Benjamin Niolet, Staff Writers

[Howlin]

A private laboratory hired by the prosecution in the Duke lacrosse case failed to report that it found DNA from multiple males in the accuser's body and underwear, according to a defense motion filed today. The lab, DNA Security of Burlington, found that the DNA did not match the three defendants, their lacrosse teammates or anyone else who submitted their DNA to police, including the accuser's boyfriend.

The new evidence emerged in thousands of documents handed over to the defense in October.

[torchthemummy]

Besides acknowledging breaking his own rules, Meehan said he didn't keep logs of phone calls, e-mail messages or notes of meetings. And he failed to report in May that a tiny bit of his own DNA, perhaps a single cell, had probably contaminated one piece of evidence.

Seems Meehan was willing to assist in a delay till after the election at the cost of his own company's reputation. Seems suicidal but when you think of the corruption that apparently is par for the course in NC this could actually help pick up business by getting a large portion of their future business from corrupt law enforcement.

[Locomotive Breath]

So this is the AP's take on what's important?
Read that headline - it's possible the Duke laxers are the fathers - right?
My opinion that the guy's a loser is confirmed.

[Jezebelle]

Stellar, LB, just excellent. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

By chance, do you remember anymore about this: "Cooney points out that Meehan is sitting in front of a 5-6" ring binder (no kidding - it was a monster) and points out that RS&CF had to go through the entire ring binder to draw the conclusion that they hadn't matched anyone." Do you remember exactly what you meant by this? Why was it different for DE versus RS&CF?

Can you objectively say whether Meehan's testimony left the impression that Liefong definitely wanted or requested or urged that the exculpatory results be left out of the report?

There was no satisfactory answer as to why giving the results that five (or ever how many) other male DNA was in Mangum would be an invasion of privacy? Whose privacy? Was Liefong trying to argue rape shield law as the reason for not reporting the exculpatory evidence? Did any of the lawyers try to argue to the judge that it was evidence of Mangum lying about when she last had sex so rape shield doesn't apply, and that it was also exculpatory inasmuch as Mangum said the attackers and Kim wiped her off/cleaned her up before dressing her and putting her in the car which can't be true if other men's DNA was found on her but not theirs?

[Jezebelle]

LOL! :>

[Jezebelle]

Excellent stuff.

[Jezebelle]

"At the beginning of Friday's hearing, Nifong made a statement that differed from Meehan's subsequent testimony:

"The first I had heard of this particular situation was when I was served with this particular motion" on Wednesday, Nifong told the judge.

After court, Nifong amended his remarks and said he knew about the DNA results."

Nailed his own lying butt straight to the wall. BAM! as Emeril says.

[abb]

If Nifong would just lurk here at FreeRepublic, he could do a better job of keeping his lies straight...

[Jezebelle]

"She's a "civil rights advocate"."

So are you. And so are we.

[Jezebelle]

I think Liefong led Meehan down the rosey red path and told him no worries about leaving out the hugely exculpatory fact that several other, separate men's DNA was found in or on her.

Meehan is probably a sadder but wiser man now, but I think his greed to get more business brought him to this point. At the very best, he looks like a third-rate amateur in his industry.

There must have been any number of labs Liefong could have chosen. Why this one? Did he do some personal and financial research on Meehan and his lab and figured he could roll Meehan pretty easily?

[Jezebelle]

100% typical.

[NCjim]

Pretty well, thanks. Working entirely too many hours... not enough time for the things I want to do.. but what else is new?

I hope that you are doing well! This case is really bizarre, isn't it? I would never have believed this could happen here in good old NC...

[Jezebelle]

Who did this Julia Lewis supposedly confirm this with and how? She obviously didn't see a birth certificate and the hospital would not give out medical information without a release.

If the source was Jakki or Travis, then God help WRAL.

[Jezebelle]

I don't see how it would make Mangum seem more credible. I guess I'm missing your point.

[torchthemummy]

There must have been any number of labs Liefong could have chosen. Why this one? Did he do some personal and financial research on Meehan and his lab and figured he could roll Meehan pretty easily?

"Only The Shadow Knows."

[Jezebelle]

I'm with you on that.

I don't see any big conspiracy in terms of Mangum planning any of this in advance. She's just a drunken, dope-ridden idiot who doesn't think about anything beyond the next two hours.

[Jezebelle]

Well, people are seeing how NC law works .... er....doesn't work, and they don't like what they're seeing. This whole grand jury/no probable cause hearing thing they have in NC, and some other very odd criminal procedures sure would make me steer clear of it as a place to live. It's awful.

[Jezebelle]

I guess the Black Panthers didn't show up. Darn.

[Locomotive Breath]

"By chance, do you remember anymore about this: "Cooney points out that Meehan is sitting in front of a 5-6" ring binder (no kidding - it was a monster) and points out that RS&CF had to go through the entire ring binder to draw the conclusion that they hadn't matched anyone." Do you remember exactly what you meant by this? Why was it different for DE versus RS&CF?"

Well RS&CF were completely excluded by all the DNA testing. The May 12 report _could have_ said that RS&CF were not matched by any of the DNA tests. It apparently did not but was more vague. At the time I remember arguments between Cheshire and Nifong as to whether the report completely exonorated the laxers and this explains why. If was only after the defense got ALL the tests and went through that 6" ring binder that the defense was able to categorically state that conclusion. DE kinda sorta maybe showed up on one of the fingernails so he wasn't, completely strictly speaking, 100% excluded from all DNA tests.

"Can you objectively say whether Meehan's testimony left the impression that Liefong definitely wanted or requested or urged that the exculpatory results be left out of the report?"

Meehan categorically stated that he was not asked to do this by Nifong but rather it was Meehan's idea to which Nifong agreed. You can guess what is my impression about that statement.

"There was no satisfactory answer as to why giving the results that five (or ever how many) other male DNA was in Mangum would be an invasion of privacy? Whose privacy? Was Liefong trying to argue rape shield law as the reason for not reporting the exculpatory evidence? Did any of the lawyers try to argue to the judge that it was evidence of Mangum lying about when she last had sex so rape shield doesn't apply, and that it was also exculpatory inasmuch as Mangum said the attackers and Kim wiped her off/cleaned her up before dressing her and putting her in the car which can't be true if other men's DNA was found on her but not theirs?"

Nifong made no rape shield argument and in fact said very little other than to point out the May 12 report had a CYA sentence that indicated that the report did not have complete data. I think the other arguments will be made at the Feb 5 hearing where I think the judge plans to rule on any number of the motions.

[Jezebelle]

He didn't mind implicating all of them and only them in the photo line-up. Reade's and Colin's indictments were handed down BEFORE the second set of testing was done by Meehan and before their second meeting and before Dave Evans' indictment, so the excuse makes no sense, especially when the DNA of the other couple players found in the house were found in a casual, non-sexual, context.

Now what I want to know is exactly when Liefong learned of the SBI results, which were formally reported on 4/10. Those results showed the inconclusive possibility of the match to Dave, borne out by the second lab. Mangum identified Dave on 4/4. If SBI gave the results informally to Liefong, which I will bet they did (at his request) because Liefong was talking to the press about "..even if there is no match, I will go forward...(words to that effect), at least a week before the SBI results were announced and handed over to the defense, did Liefong communicate that to Mangum BEFORE she again looked at a photo line-up and picked Dave?

[Jezebelle]

Okay, thank you very much.