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."
I have to agree with Proud2be on one thing: you certainly are here to "drive" this story.
For some reason, that is all you have posted about since you've been here -- and you've done it with relish.
Most times when that happens, the rest of us get suspicious. We're not new to this and, as I'm sure you can see, we have just as much information as you do or we will find it.
We're not just as rabid as you are.
In case you didn't notice, we were way ahead of this story before you got here.
I suspect you're disappear when this is over.
She certainly did NOT say that in the phone call.
She went out with her boyfriend the next morning according to her own Father..
Ah, no; in one of his version, the father said her boy friend brought her home from the hospital. That's not "going out."
The alleged rape took place in a house that is owned by a wealthy university.
The alleged rapists are all white lacrosse players who as a rule are far more likely to come from affluent families than say football or basketball players.
The strippers knows that if she can somehow get enough people to believe it is true, that she will get a book deal or TV mini-series. She also has probably been told that if she files a lawsuit against Duke that they may actually settle rather than go to trial and keep this in the public eye. And if any of the alleged rapists are from wealthy families, she may get settlements from them simply to keep their names out of the papers.
Basically the stripper has everything to gain and nothing to lose.
You're going to agree with your girlfriend, A big surprise!
For people that can read, the sources are right there.
I stated why I came on this forum and I was honest and open about it. You have been rude and petty from the beginning.
My posts are out there for people to read. When I said something was my Opinion I stated it.
I think you Howlin want to be the big expert and didn't want anyone else posting on the subject.
I still haven't seen anyone logically refute the Facts.
My facts versus your feelings.
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She went to the hospital sometime during that night, sometimes after 1:30 or so, when the police arrived at Kroger.
After she left the hospital, it did take her 31 hours to flesh out the details so the police could get their search warrant. That's why there was a delay.
What I was saying was within an hour talking to the POLICE (not 911) she said she was raped amongst over things.
I was AGREEING That she stated she had been raped within an hour.
I think you need to back off *just* a bit. You're just proving people's point.
OakOak your posts speak volumes. I am pointing out to other FReepers that you changed a title of an article that already had been available for our view under its accurate title and then proceeded to interpret the article for us. You have now labeling me angry, lying, emotional and suggesting that I might be Crystal?
I think more than 160 posts by OakOak on one subject in three days on a new account is interesting and revealing.
The first time she was able to PROVIDE DETAILS was 31 hours later.. Not flesh out earlier details. No details at all were given to police, only the fact she had been raped and an address.
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but the damage is already done.
The lacross season is done for the young men.
They are cheated out of potential scholarships or international competition.
Is this woman going to be able to give them back the lost time? repair aggrivation? reputation which will follow them?
She may have not thought it through but her shakedown bomb (if that is indeed the case) has already done its damage.
Didn't you suggest I was a "group" out to steer FreeRepublic's opinion by fabricating information?
Then didn't the person you sent that too, say I was a Defense Lawyer (or working for them) trying to smear the victim?
By pointing out facts, that's not smearing a victim.
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Unless you're with the police force or you are her, you have absolutely no way of know what she did or did not tell the police.
No way.
If she was raped, I feel very sorry for her. However, the more that comes out the more she looks like she's lying.
I don't think she cares whose life she ruins, she sees dollar signs.
Are you my girlfriend? :-)
So what if OakOak is only interested in this one issue and all of his posts relate to that?
He's made very clear his take on this case. We can all go read his sources for ourselves and take them for what each of us thinks they are worth and draw our own conclusions and debate them on the forum.
He is adding to the total amount of information we have.
I've seen many newbies get called on the carpet for changing article titles, and anyone it is clear OakOak stopped doing that after he was told the protocol.
So do you know how it feels to be raped? Every female is different on how they are able to emotionally deal with it. She reported it right away, she went to the hospital to be treated for her injuries, then provided the police with details. Sounds like the proper timeline to me.
Just want to know one thing- if an article comes out reporting that DNA results points to one or more of the Lacrosse players, will YOU post it? I'm thinking no.
But YOU know they she provided details and then fleshed them out later, when all the articles say that it took her 31 hours to provide details.
A defense attorney, discussing the unconstitutionality of the generic, vanilla search warrant alluded to the 31 hour failure to provide details in a TV/Phone interview.
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I think more than 160 posts by OakOak on one subject in three days on a new account is interesting and revealing.
I do too.
I know that. My problem is you embellishing the "story" with facts that aren't known.
Okay, no the debate has switched to how it feels to be raped.
I am saying that I didn't fabricate the 31 hour delay in providing any details of the events of that night.
She does have a bad criminal record. So, my theory was the 31 hours and a criminal mind are not a good combination.
I have work to do.
Thank you.
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