Posted on 04/09/2006 5:16:52 PM PDT by wagglebee
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Time-stamped photographs will show an exotic dancer was already injured and "very impaired" when she arrived at a party where she claims she was raped by members of Duke University's men's lacrosse team, an attorney for one of the players said Sunday.
Durham attorney Bill Thomas said some of the photographs, taken when she arrived at the house, indicate the woman was injured before getting to the party March 13. They show extensive bruises and scrapes on her legs, especially around the knees, he said.
"This young lady was substantially impaired. She had fallen several times during the course of the evening," Thomas said.
He declined to identify the player he represents and said he would not release the photos, taken by at least two cameras, until pending DNA tests are completed.
He also wouldn't say whether the photos were taken by a lacrosse team member or someone else; court documents have indicated that only team members were present at the party.
No one has been charged in the case, but the allegations that members of the nearly all-white team raped the woman, a black student at a nearby university, have rocked both Duke and Durham.
The allegations have led to the resignation of coach Mike Pressler, the cancellation of the lacrosse season and the suspension of one player from school.
Several dozen people gathered Sunday outside the house where the party took place, and pledged to return each Sunday until the case is resolved.
"Whether I want to believe it, or whether you want to believe it, something took place in there," said Johnny Williamson, 36, of Durham. "Something indecent took place."
District Attorney Mike Nifong, who was expected to return this week from an out-of-town conference and has not commented on the case in the past several days, has said previously he is confident a rape occurred. Court documents said a medical exam of the alleged victim found injuries consistent with sexual assault.
The victim has not returned repeated messages seeking comment, but her father said Sunday she hasn't changed her story.
"I expect them to say that," he said of the lawyers' contentions his daughter is lying.
The woman and the other dancer arrived separately, Thomas said, and performed briefly before leaving. The victim told police she and the other dancer left because they feared for their safety, but were later convinced to come back inside.
Thomas said the photos contradict the alleged victim's assertion she was scared, as they show her standing at the door of the off-campus house with "a major grin on her face" as she tried to get back inside.
"People inside the house have stated she was banging on the door, attempting to regain entry," Thomas said.
The woman told police she was pulled into a bathroom and assaulted after coming back into the house. But Thomas said the woman locked herself in the bathroom, where police later found her purse, cell phone, and several artificial fingernails she claimed to have lost during a struggle with her attackers.
Thomas said one of the attorneys representing team members had interviewed the other dancer extensively, and she said the alleged victim never told her about a rape.
"All of these statements you've heard ... about this brutal assault, rape, kidnapping and robbery which occurred, I believe that the public will soon be able to learn the truth, and that these allegations are totally false and without merit," Thomas said.
Both the team's captains and attorneys for team members have said the DNA tests, which may be completed this week, will prove the allegation are false. The players' attorneys also have raised other questions about the allegations, saying e-mails written in the hours after the alleged attack will help prove the players' claims that nothing happened that night.
Attorneys also have raised suspicions about a 911 call, made shortly after the alleged attack would have occurred, from a black woman who claimed someone at the party shouted racial slurs at her and a friend. The caller alternatively told police the pair were driving and walking past the house. Thomas said Sunday he and other attorneys believe the second dancer at the party made the call.
"These young men have been absolutely vilified in the press," Thomas said. "I think this week we will go a long ways toward clearing these young men's names. I can assure you that this has been a nightmare for each and every one of them."
You know what I'm 'talkin about...
IMHO, the president was just waiting for an excuse to stick it to the team.
Brawley was also given a fancy wristwatch by a sympathetic Bill Cosby.
I think Cosby came to regret that sympathy, but I doubt he ever demanded the watch back.
Thanks for pointing that out. Wouldn't surprise me if "oak oak" was an attorney working this case trying to get his "smear the victim" campaign out there.
How would the team be able to function? Each game would be chaos as protesters would undoubtedly interrupt and cause a scene. Keep in mind that some of actions are being taken to protect these players, who has received threats and even been confronted by their own professors. Can you imagine what a road game would be like?
When you pay two strippers $400 each, something indecent is supposed to take place!
Things would have been soooo much simpler if they had rented a clown who twists balloons into hats and animals...
Okay. YOU pointed out that I was new to Free Republic.
The MSM buried the info in an article title that did NOT reflect the new revelations in the article. I used a title that would convey what happened or the important part of the story, IMO. I did NOT know this was against protocol.
However, YOU are being purposefully misleading in saying I made it up. The fact is she took 31 hours to tell her story for the first time and reveal any details. Couple this with her Criminal history and you'll see that it is important.
The Freeper saying the 30 hour delay made him or her suspicous does NOT care that I changed the title of the article when I posted it. The information in the article (that she didn't provide ANY details for 31 hours after the supposed attack) was totally and completely accurate.
This is taken verbatim:
DUKE-LACROSSE (Khanna, Raleigh News & Observer) _ DURHAM, N.C.: It took two days before police searched the house where a woman said she was raped by Duke University lacrosse players because 31 hours passed before she was able to provide details about what happened, the city manager says.
ENDQUOTE
http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=APR07-04-07-06
I think you got pulled emotionally into this story by the Big Media and you're angry at these lacrosse players. You prefer to react emotionally to these horrific allegations rather than carefully consider the facts of the case.
If a Rape occured, why did the 2 strippers drive 2.5 miles to a SuperMarket to ask a security guard to call 911 when they have a Cell phone with them and a Police station was less than a mile away. And then the 2nd stripper denied to the police being the individual that asked the Kroger Security guard to call 911.
The QUESTION is, why are so resolute in ignoring the FACTS of the case? Why do you want it to be true so bad?
Unfortunately, I will be away this week and will not be responding. Do not take this as an indication that I am ignoring your posts.
I thank all the informed Freepers for all their help.
Oak
Kind'a has a stench to it... dont'ja think?
Nobody has follwed this case closer than Howlin. She resides in the immediate area.
*** ping for her comments ***
mslee,
Do you want to be led astray by proud2beconservativeinNJ?
Here's another link:
http://www.brendan-nyhan.com/blog/2006/04/delay_in_duke_l.html
City Manager Patrick Baker said in an interview Thursday that it took two days before police searched the house where a woman said she was raped BECAUSE 31 HOURS PASSED before she was able to provide details about what happened.
ENDQUOTE
You guys want to ignore the last revelations and obfuscate the truth.
MSLEE and PROUD2BECONSERVATIVEINNJ,
Deal with the facts. Don't question technical protocol violations and make it sound like the CONTENT of the article is inaccurate. ARE YOU SAYING THE WOMAN DID NOT WAIT 31 HOURS?
Because that is what is important here, not the fact that I erred when posting a title. So, let's be upfront and forthright. Are you disputing that fact?
DID SHE OR DID SHE NOT WAIT 31 HOURS?
Oak
Because I am pointing out your actions over the past three days, you are posting that I am emotional and angry at these Lacrosse players rather than considering "your facts." You are right in there with the level of functioning of the MSM. I invite all FReepers to take a look at your three day record of providing FR the "facts" on this issue.
Proud2beconservativeinNJ,
You are simply LYING, you say I fabricated that information;
What does my "GROUP" control the Internet now and the Durham City Manager? Can you not read?
Here, in this article the black community is believing there is a cover up due to same 31 hour delay:
His defense answered complaints from some community members who believed the 31-hour lag between the time police first heard from the victim and the time they searched the house allowed for the possibility of a cover-up.
Source: http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-721704.html
And this by the extremely liberal N&O that tried to hide it with an obscure headline:
Samiha Khanna, Staff Writer
City Manager Patrick Baker said in an interview Thursday that it took two days before police searched the house where a woman said she was raped because 31 hours passed before she was able to provide details about what happened.
http://www.newsobserver.com/734/story/426021.html
Now, was this story fabricated or is "my group" controlling the entire media?
I ask you, Speak up, you made the "false allegation"
Is your name Crystal?
.
LOL. They were stupid enough to get involved with a stripper. I'm sure right now they wish they had hired a clown and balloons instead.
She did not provide any details for 31 hours , can't you read or do you want the blood of these guys so bad you can't see through your blood-shot eyes?
Again, from the most liberal paper out there:
Samiha Khanna, Staff Writer
City Manager Patrick Baker said in an interview Thursday that it took two days before police searched the house where a woman said she was raped because 31 hours passed before she was able to provide details about what happened.
http://www.newsobserver.com/734/story/426021.html
Show me, show us all, where I ever said to took 31 hours to REPORT it. I said 31 hours to provide any details and tell her story.
.
It said she reported the rape within an hour. The End.
Again, I ask you, what facts did I misrepresent?
You're mad because the facts are coming out and you wanted to hang these guys.. WHAT FACTS?
Are you still saying she didn't take 31 hours to tell the police the details they needed to get a search warrant?
.
It is?! Of course the alleged victim has something to gain. Maybe I don't understand your post.
I guess it is THE END if you want to believe they are guilty.
The big picture is her co-stripper called 911 within an hour (and the 911 call says she was intoxicated).. She said I was raped amongst a lot of other things.
She went out with her boyfriend the next morning according to her own Father.. 31 hours after the party, she is able for the first time to provide ANY details of the incident.
.
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