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 think that Oak has had an excellent record in posting the truth about this sorry incident, as opposed to the liberal media spin that has so many here enthralled.
I don't know whether he is right or wrong, but it seems to me that Oak Oak didn't get punchy until you got accusatory. Looks like another game of smear the newbie here at Free Republic. Why can't you, Howlin, etc. make your points without qusetioning someone else's motive? Isn't that a personal attack? Aren't personal attacks supposed to be forbidden here?
If this is a shakedown, makes me wonder how many times this was done. The routine is pretty standard with regards to the investigation.
If she came with bruises from some other attack, those can easily be used with consentual sex to build a case of "rape".
Even with a proper investigation path, it comes down to was the sex consentual?
If she came to the event with bruises and that police/rape investigation indicates those bruises as having been aquired at the party the she is done. It also becomes an issue as to the natural progression of the bruises.
I do find it interesting that the players all provided their DNA samples. What happens if none of them match the semen found in the victim? I agree there has been a rush to judgment.
Because we're interested in the facts, not misinformation.
You are correct in that when I understood about the titles, I changed my methodology. The problem is they have trouble with the facts because they are invested in the guilt of these boys.
I didn't think automatically this woman was lying until I saw all the holes in the stories.
Why didn't they use their cell phone to call 911? Why did Dancer #2 deny asking the security guard to call 911?
Why did the woman tell the N&O it was her fist time stripping in front of a group when she has a 2002 convictions from an incident that started while she was dancing in a strip club? Why doesn't the timeline add up?
Why didn't they tell the authorities they made the first 911 call? Why did her boyfriend take her to the hospital instead of the police? Why did stripper #2 lie about finding the woman walking half-clothed near the Kroger when a neighbor witnessed her getting into the car and leaving with the other stripper? Why is it unknown where the accuser was before she came to the Duke Party around Midnight?
But, I'm making all this stuff up.. Obviously, you can tell by the number of posts ...
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Remember the players are not putting up a consenual sex defense, they are saying they didn't have sex with her at all and that any bruises she had were on her prior to her arrival. It is possible that she had sex with someone else prior to the party, but thanks to DNA we can determine whose semen if any was left inside her.
Yes, and has the DA taken a DNA sample from the boyfriend? If he was the one who picked her up from the Kroger parking lot and took her to the hospital, wouldn't a thorough investigation necessarily include his DNA swab?
Somehow I won't be surprised if we learn the DA never considered that.
You didn't get the point of my post at all did you? Ad hominem attacks on a poster do not make the facts any clearer. You can point out any inconsistencies in an argument WITHOUT making personal attacks on the poster. You are insinuating things about which you have no evidence. The same thing you are accusing OAK OAK of doing, I might add. I, for one, would be more likely to remain open to your arguments if you don't turn this into a smear campaign.
I don't think Howlin is invested in the guilt of these boys and I think she has a pretty good handle on the reported facts of the case.
Are you still on the rampage about OakOak posting his own titled article in News instead of Vanity. Geez, get over it.
How quickly you forget. Remember Kobe Bryant's alleged victim? She got a financial settlement from him.
Which is exactly what I have done. I've been very clear to Oak on more than one occasion that we need the facts, not embellishments.
You are insinuating things about which you have no evidence
Why don't you point out a post where I did that. I can wait.
Howlin,
You are interested in facts that support your side of the story. You made nasty posts to me the other day and I didn't say anything but, Thank you.
But, if you going to accuse me of making stuff up, Put up or shut up.
The one error I made was typing fast and argueing with you and your buds. I mis-typed when I said she said she had been raped. I meant she said she had been raped within an hour, but didn't provide details and I was illustrating how the Police came to be at Kroger.
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I was asked a question -- and I answered it.
Get over it.
Oh, how about the one where you suggest he will disappear as soon as this case is over?
my understanding from the reports in the media is that there are potentially three sex partners that eventing from that party.
(she could argue they wore condoms too which woudl negate leaving anything behind)
I think the DNA is to elimanate all but the absolute minimum.
I apologized, more than once, for NOT following protocol with the titles.
Yesterday, I used the exact title, but someone had posted it just before me.
I'm guilty. So, what have I fabricated in regards to the facts in this case?
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The main point is to determine if any of the lacrosse players had sexual intercourse with her. Either there is a match with them or there isn't- there is no need to determine who the semen actually belongs to- given her profession, it could be any number of men.
Keep in mind that having her boyfriend's semen wouldn't prove a whole lot other than the fact that they had sex recently- it is hardly mindblowing concept that she had sex with her boyfriend earlier in the day.
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