Head of DNA lab says he and Nifong agreed not to report results

The NEws & Observer ^ | Dec 15, 2006 02:07 PM | Joseph Neff, Benjamin Niolet and Anne Blythe

[MindBender26]

A District Atty, State's Atty, or other such official has a LEGAL OBLIGATION to IMMEDIATELY bring ALL exculpatory evidence to the attention of the defense, so that that may investigate it, use it in their defense, etc.

The purpose of a DA, and his legal obligation, is not to put just anyone in jail, but to put the guilty party and the guilty party only in jail AND ASSIST THE INNOCENT TO GO FREE.

This is huge.

I expect the charges to be dropped on motion, not on trial, unless the DA has something huge, such as a video taped confession, which he does not.

[Red_Devil 232]

Right, and with the majority of the electrate being black ...the three dots are connected ... right through a white DA.

[Digger]

Nifong should be in jail. Period.

So where are all of the honest people & why are they not protesting, etc.? This shows you why the leftist continually win battles because if reversed there would be anarchy if nothing was done.

[Enterprise]

"Was the failure to report these results the intentional decision of you and the district attorney? Cooney asked."

“Yes,” Meehan replied."

[Godzilla]

Hmmmm, these are suppose to be rich, white boys. I expect that Nifong, once this is summarly thrown out, will be facing some attorneys for these young men that would make a great white shark swim away in fear. Too bad the tax payers will be hit........ wait, these same tax payers re-elected Nifong, so they deserve it.

[Enterprise]

Hopefully the taxpayers won't be the only ones paying. There are about 88 faculty members at Duke who should be getting that good old pukcer factor feeling about now.

[Enterprise]

"The lab director just made every atty., who is trying to question his labs credibility, very, very, very happy."

Oh man, I hadn't thought of that until now either. The obvious question: "In how many other cases have you not reported on evidence favorable to a defendant?"

[ArmstedFragg]

more like prosecutorial misconduct.

I have the feeling this thing's going to go away in a few months on a defense motion to dismiss with a deliberately ineptly argued response. Just a little finesse, there.

The big challenge will be finding someone to hold onto the papers while the judge signs them, since he'll have one hand occupied holding his nose.

[Sue Perkick]

unless the DA has something huge, such as a video taped confession

I'm hoping for a video taped party.

[ArmstedFragg]

I believe it was done to the cops in the Rodney King case

The officers in the King case were tried in state court. All but one was found not guilty, with the final officer (Lawrence Powell) acquited on most charges and the jury unable to reach a verdict on one charge.

The federal trial was a seperate case charging a different offense.

[ArmstedFragg]

How about every case that the DNA lab was involoved in? Whoooooeee!

....and every future case. I'm guessing their stock won't be hitting new highs Monday.

[goldstategop]

Nifong needs to be disbarred - for breach of ethics an officer of the court.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Sacajaweau]

The other thread noted that the DNA is apparently contaminated with Meehan's DNA. So they must have run his as a "check". That means it is likely that Nifong and any of the detectives who went to the lab or handled the "stuff" or any other evidence also submitted DNA as a "check". In fact, I believe it's the norm.

I have a feeling that the Defense has another card up their sleeve as related to the DNA which was found on/in, whatever, her. Something like......does the DNA match ANYONE in the system including the police department and Nifong's office.

Always wondered why the police chief took off. My best guess is he wanted to stay as far away as possible from Nifong because he got wind of what was going on.

[ArmstedFragg]

Have you seen anything providing specifics on just which tests they ran? The media reporting about Y chromosomes is somewhat nonsensical to me. Specifically, I'm wondering if they did any PCR-like multiplying of the DNA.

[Locomotive Breath]

I posted my report in the old thread. Go here

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1753040/posts?page=1241#1241

[Sacajaweau]

No little to nothing about DNA but in a court of law, it can exclude as in this case. Funny, we heard early on that there was other DNA present and the boyfriend was "suggested". So, there must have been a "leak" which sent the Defense "back to the lab". It's the timing of everything that matters. It's why they were indicted in the first place. DNA was NOT the grounds for the indictment. So, what was??

[Rb ver. 2.0]

North Carolina is a Dem state. Justice isn't blind.

[montag813]

Why is Mike Nifong still a DA?

Does North Carolina even have an Attorney General? Has s/he been on vacation for the past 9 months?

[ArmstedFragg]

"A lot of time we get evidence that has been passed around between a dozen different people," Meehan said.

A prophetic statement from the lab's web site.

[Sacajaweau]

Amazing....just amazing. That kinda kills the all important chain of custody. THAT's the document I want to see.