“Yes,” Meehan replied."
Posted on 12/15/2006 12:00:48 PM PST by nj_pilot
The head of a private DNA laboratory said under oath today that he and District Attorney Mike Nifong agreed not to report DNA results favorable to Duke lacrosse players charged with rape.
Brian Meehan, director of DNA Security of Burlington, said his lab found DNA from unidentified men in the underwear, pubic hair and rectum of the woman who said she was gang-raped at a lacrosse party in March. Nurses at Duke Hospital collected the samples a few hours after the alleged assault. Meehan said the DNA did not come from Reade Seligmann, David Evans, or Collin Finnerty, who have been charged with rape and sexual assault in the case.
Meehan struggled to say why he didn’t include the favorable evidence in a report dated May 12, almost a month after Seligmann and Finnerty had been indicted. He cited concerns about the privacy of the lacrosse players, his discussions at several meetings with Nifong, and the fact that he didn’t know whose DNA it was.
Under questioning by Jim Cooney, a defense attorney for Seligmann, Meehan admitted that his report violated his laboratory’s standards by not reporting results of all tests.
Did Nifong and his investigators know the results of all the DNA tests? Cooney asked.
“I believe so,” Meehan said.
“Did they know the test results excluded Reade Seligmann?” Cooney asked.
“I believe so,” Meehan said.
Was the failure to report these results the intentional decision of you and the district attorney? Cooney asked.
“Yes,” Meehan replied.
At that answer, several people in the packed courtroom clapped. Superior Court Judge W. Osmond Smith III warned the standing-room only crowd to be quiet or leave.
Meehan’s testimony differed from a statement Nifong made at the beginning of today’s hearing.
“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 clarified his remarks to say that he knew about the DNA results.
"And we were trying to, just as Dr. Meehan said, trying to avoid dragging any names through the mud but at the same time his report made it clear that all the information was available if they wanted it and they have every word of it,” Nifong said.
Joseph B. Cheshire V, a lawyer for Evans, said he was troubled by today’s testimony.
“If any of the lacrosse players were excluded, they simply wouldn’t put it in the report,” he said. “It raises some troublesome questions about (Nifong), who has an obligation to disclose exculpatory evidence and turn it over to the defense.”
In a response to reports that the accuser in the Duke lacrosse case gave birth recently, UNC Health care issued a statement at about 1:30 p.m. saying that the woman is at UNC Hospitals for care related to her pregnancy but has not given birth.
Right, and with the majority of the electrate being black ...the three dots are connected ... right through a white DA.
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.
“Yes,” Meehan replied."
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.
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.
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?"
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.
I'm hoping for a video taped party.
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.
....and every future case. I'm guessing their stock won't be hitting new highs Monday.
"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
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.
I posted my report in the old thread. Go here
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1753040/posts?page=1241#1241
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??
North Carolina is a Dem state. Justice isn't blind.
Does North Carolina even have an Attorney General? Has s/he been on vacation for the past 9 months?
A prophetic statement from the lab's web site.
Amazing....just amazing. That kinda kills the all important chain of custody. THAT's the document I want to see.
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