Posted on 04/11/2007 7:46:54 AM PDT by Howlin
RALEIGH, N.C. — Three members of Duke University's lacrosse team could learn Wednesday whether state prosecutors will drop the remaining charges accusing them of sexually assaulting a stripper at a team party more than a year ago.
"I think it's likely that they will do that," said Wade Smith, an attorney for charged player Collin Finnerty. "We certainly hope that would be true. But until we hear it, we're not going to acknowledge that's the truth. We'll wait and see."
The state Attorney General's Office has scheduled a 2:30 p.m. news conference to discuss the case. It is unclear whether Attorney General Roy Cooper will be at the news conference at the RBC Center, which can accommodate the crush of national media interested in the case.
The Associated Press, citing sources close to the investigation, reported Wednesday morning that all charges would be dropped in the case.
The Attorney General's Office took over the case in January after Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong was charged with several ethics violations tied to his handling of the sensational case.
No notice of dismissal had been filed at the Durham County Courthouse by early Wednesday. But a spokeswoman for the Attorney General's Office told WRAL that the investigation into the case has been completed.
"We are relieved that this day has come,” Smith told WRAL. “There will not be a celebration because this has been a train wreck.”
The families of Collin Finnerty, Reade Seligmann and David Evans arrived in Raleigh Tuesday. Officials told WRAL that the three lacrosse players would be present once a decision had been made as to how the prosecution would proceed with the case.
A grand jury indicted the three players on charges of rape, kidnapping and sexual offense last spring after a woman told police she was assaulted at a March 2006 team party where she was hired to perform as a stripper. All three have steadfastly maintained their innocence, with Evans calling the allegations "fantastic lies."
Nifong dropped the rape charges in December after the accuser changed a key detail in her story. He recused himself a few weeks later after the state bar charged him with violating several rules of professional conduct.
Among the ethics charges, Nifong is accused of withholding potentially exculpatory DNA evidence from the defense and lying to both the court and bar investigators. Nifong faces a June trial before the bar and could be disbarred if convicted.
Nifong faces a Friday afternoon hearing in the ethics case, and he spent Wednesday morning with his attorney in Winston-Salem.
Nifong's recusal put the players' fate in the hands of Cooper, who promised "a fresh and thorough review of the facts" when he took over the case in January.
Smith said the players, their families and the defense attorneys were pleased that the special prosecutors took over the case, saying they brought "sanity to this situation."
“The special prosecutors have looked under every rock, and they have searched for evidence in places even the defense did not,” he told WRAL.
While Evans graduated the day before he was indicted in May, Duke temporarily suspended sophomores Finnerty and Seligmann in the wake of their arrest. Finnerty was also convicted in July in an unrelated assault case in Washington, D.C., and sentenced to six months of probation.
Finnerty and Seligmann were both invited to return to campus, but neither has accepted. John Danowski, the former coach at Hofstra who took over the Duke program last summer, has also said that both are welcome to continue their lacrosse careers with the Blue Devils
Good pts. I was referring to facing your accuser.
They should get the same treatment Imus got.
That is why I think that prosecuting Mangum is important- a case against her would force the truth of her scheme into open court, and let the world without problem that she lied.
I have the horse to sit him on.
Kimberly Catfish on Fox now....Remember “Stand Up and Be a Man” Guilfoyle???? How many late Sat nights did we share screaming at Kimberly? Singing a different song now!! Too funny.
What’s the security going to be like for the Press Conference? ABC reports each of the players will be making a brief statement after Cooper makes his announcement. I would just as soon make sure that none of the public — press only — is close enough to report the event. I know many may think I’ve become paranoid, but like chicken soup — it couldn’t hurt to have more than is actually needed.
And I’ve got the tree.
Cooperation ROCKS!!
“Unfortunately this will likely be a common occurrence for these three boys for the foreseeable future. Most companies don’t want to deal with the distractions.”
You can bet the farm on that and I never bet.
I just heard that..............LOL!
My gosh! I can’t take Kimberly Guifoyle!
She’s crying about the loss of the players’ reputation, the likelihood of civil suits (especially against the deep-pocketed Duke), and the need to disbar Nifong. Wasn’t she the one calling on the players to “step up and be a man” just a year ago? And now she’s acting like she was on the side of justice all along?
Give me a break! I just want to tell all these Johnnie come latelies to STFU!
And she still can’t get it right. KG actually said that one basis for the suit against Duke is that Kevin and Reade were suspended — their education was interrupted — while Duke allowed Dave to complete his education. !!! I’m aghast! She still doesn’t know the facts! Duke had nothing to do with Evans being indicted after Kevin and Reade. Crystal couldn’t identify him.
Why does Fox keep her on the air?
lol sounds like we have a necktie party all ready and waiting for him.
Wonder how Nancy Grace is doing today? Can't wait to hear from Wendy Murphy. Think Gorgia Goslee will make a TV appearance today?
A Local Radio Talk show was offering to pick up their airfare to come down for an apology.
This day has been too long coming. I can’t wait to hear what the families and the defense has to say.
And I can’t wait to hear why the AG is dropping the charges. Finally!!
They are going to announce it at the RBC Center? Did I get that wrong?
And the parents will speak from the Sheraton at a press conference later in the afternoon?
ROTFL If that's an old one I missed it. Very good.
Which one? I’ll call up and donate some money!
Well shoot. Sounds like we’re set.
As far as I know, the words “Duke lacrosse” hasn’t passed Nancy’s lips since the rape charges were dropped.
Nifong isn’t in Durham today; surprised?
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