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."
We'll have to wait and see, won't we?
Wanna bet?
There has also been a rush to judgement based on the notion that semen means rape -- this woman is a stripper!
Two words.
"Tawana Brawley."
There you go; you're putting words in her mouth. You have no clue what she told the police.
We don't even know if there was any semen!
If you doubt my conservative beliefs and I can argue those too.
From Kathleen Wiley to Vince Foster and Bernie Neusbam with a suicide note the was torn in many pieces with no fingerprints.
From Betty Currie to Vernon Jordan.
.
Interesting...
"We'll have to wait and see, won't we?"
Ok, then lets do that. Meanwhile, can we go ahead and argue the facts of THIS case, and leave OakOak's character assasination to later?
"Wanna bet?"
No, but I promise to give you bragging rights if you're correct.
Oak, what is your source for this:
The woman in the Kobe Bryant case got a settlement before the Civil case
Before the case? From who?
Do want to go on record as say unequivocably that this woman's story will be supported by the evidence?
You show your ignorance. They reached an out-of-court settlement.
Oh my.
.
Fight the good fight. Keep fighting the fair fight, Howlin. I love Free Republic and thank Jim for all the good and positive aspects it brings into my world.
Now you're reaching.
I am on record on the first thread about this story on this forum as thinking her story smelled to high hell.
Way back in March. Way before you got here 3 days ago.
That is based on her account of what happened- that three lax players dragged her into the bathroom and raped her. But the players have argued that none of them even had consenual sex with her- she came in drunk and bruised up, she and her partner danced for about three minutes, they then locked themselves in the bathroom for about 30 minutes, then they left with the $800. So if the player's account is accurate, there should be no semen from the lax players found inside of her.
she could argue they wore condoms too which woudl negate leaving anything behind)
That's possible, although I agree with the defense attorneys that it seem hard to imagine that three drunk players were able to rape her vaginally, orally, and anally without leave any DNA. It is also hard to imagine that she was raped orally yet wouldn't be able to tell whether they used a condom or not.
I agree. She needs to lose her show and be turned into a file clerk at a courthouse somewhere.
Safer for everybody.
Updated: 9:11 p.m. ET March 3, 2005
DENVER - With a terse news release and an even terser court filing, the sordid sexual assault case against Kobe Bryant that gripped the nation abruptly ended with an agreement that ensures the NBA star never goes to trial for what happened in a hotel room two years ago.
Few experts believed the civil lawsuit would ever be heard by a jury, saying it was unlikely that Bryant and the 20-year-old woman who accused him of raping her relished the prospect of having to divulge potentially embarrassing, intimate details in a courtroom.
Although no mention of a monetary settlement was made, Bryant agreed to negotiate a monetary settlement, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.
I was thinking sequentially...
Here's a clue for you: that was AFTER the trial was underway, not before.
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