Posted on 01/03/2007 10:57:18 AM PST by abb
(01/03/07 -- DURHAM) - Duke lacrosse defendants Colin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann are both expected to be reinstated today as Duke students in good standing, two sources close to the case told ABC News. Also on abc11tv.com: Send us news tips | Desktop Alert | ABC11 AccuWeather | Pinpoint Traffic Defendant David Evans was allowed to graduate last spring, but underclassmen Seligmann and Finnerty were suspended from the University pending a resolution of the assault charges.
December 22, 2006, prosecutors dropped rape charges against the three Duke lacrosse players accused of attacking a stripper at a team party, but the three still face kidnapping and sexual offense charges.
According to court papers filed by District Attorney Mike Nifong, the accuser says she now does not know if she was penetrated during the alleged attack.
The accuser, a 28-year-old student at North Carolina Central University, has said three men raped her in a bathroom at a March 13 Duke lacrosse team party where she was hired to perform as a stripper.
The indicted players - Dave Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann - all say they are innocent, and their attorneys have consistently said no sex occurred at the party.
Evans graduated from Duke in May, the day before he was indicted. Sophomores Finnerty and Seligmann were suspended following their April 2006 indictments.
The Duke lacrosse team was also suspended from play, but was reinstated in June on a provisionary basis.
A press conference from defense attorneys is expected this afternoon.
Stay with abc11tv.com and ABC11 Eyewitness News for the latest on this developing story.
BUMP!
I'm watching.
You are mean-spirited in the face of a travesty.
newgeezer, why don't you take your views to the CTV boards. They'd be welcomed there.
Students at a major University were accused of a serious crime. Immediately, the school administrators appeared to assume the guilt of the students. This is disturbing because the parents want at least some peace of mind that the University will at least try to give helpful legal counsel if the students need it. At the very least, the parents don't want the University acting as an agent of the District Attorney or the police. Faculty members, who should have known better, signed a letter which was improperly accusative of the accused, and the University tolerated "wanted" posters of the accused that were posted in public, on the campus. The District Attorney used a rubber stamp Grand Jury, to which he provided little information while excluding exculpatory information, and then proceeded to file charges anyway and made public statements which inflamed the community against the students. The media cooperated and also inflamed the people against the students. The community surrounding the University was hostile to the students. Race hustling black "leaders" made their usual appearance to whip up hate against the accused. Violent black activists were allowed on campus and in the court room where threats were made to the accused. Finally it was learned that there was no reliable evidence to indict the students and the story of the victim changed repeatedly. Further it was learned that the District Attorney and the head of the lab (Meehan) where evidence was examined agreed to withhold information which was favorable to the accused students. (The surrounding community, meanwhile, elected the DA, ostensibly because it was pleased with his actions.) After the testimony of Meehan, and after 8 months, the DA finally had the victim interviewed, and the story changed yet again. The DA dropped the rape charge, but kept other charges intact.
The conclusion being made by parents who might be considering a University in North Carolina as a choice for a University might be that it is a "third world" state, where white people are hated, and justice can quickly become a matter of "lynch mob" proportions. Their son or daughter has little legal protection against a vengeful DA, the University will assume their guilt, and the surrounding communities will pressure the DA for a conviction if the accused are white, regardless of the evidence. Statements will be made in public to the effect that they deserve to be convicted because of past "injustices" to blacks. One conclusion is that those who are caught up in the justice system of North Carolina are up against a horrifying ordeal, and it is a system not in agreement with reasonable standards of justice that people expect in this nation. The Alumni of Duke and other North Carolina Universities had to be stunned and ashamed, and parents could only ask:
WHO IN THE HELL IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WANTS TO SEND THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER TO A UNIVERSITY IN A STATE LIKE THAT!!!!
So Gottlieb gets voted off the island and the boys get immunity? ;oD
Did you read that the bald one is on paternity leave? Here's hoping he returns to a subpoena in the revived Blinco's case.
Exactly why I'm thinking he's toast.
Consider post #104 for your ping list. Thanks.
Their presence back on campus is a thumb in the eye of all the people you mention. I think, if I were one of the parents, I would have a little chat with Dick Brodhead about the changes he needs to make at Duke to avoid a massive lawsuit. There's your campus culture initiative for you.
I'm kinda anxious to hear.
"Only strippers have low morals"? Your second invocation of an inane straw man inside of a few posts to me on this thread is laughable, at best.
Explain to me how [hiring a stripper] was playing with fire.
I would, if I thought it could possibly be anything but a complete waste of time.
I agree; and I am here.
There needs to be some MAJOR revamping, starting with recording the Grand Jury testimony.
I wonder if the Grand jurors can be questioned at any point about what they were or were not told.
Why don't THEY come forward. Too embarassed, I guess.
Please don't try to defend NC in this case by bringing up other states.
It's not about other states, it's about other universities.
Nifong should be indicted, stripped of his office and serve jail time.
So nice to know that you yourself are perfect while your flaming tongue of damnation is directed in judgment of others.
It's about what these universities get away with in THIS state.
I don't know what a CTV board is. But, if you think my views don't belong here, feel free to click the Abuse link, ladies.
Sheesh. Cry me a river. I used to think conservatives believed people should take personal responsibility for the consequences of their own stupid choices.
Evidently you either don't know the answer or don't like the answer.
http://wral.com/news/local/story/1124935/
Presser - live feed
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