DNA Tests in Duke Rape Probe Delivered to District Attorney Fox News
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."
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - The state crime lab has completed DNA testing of members of Duke University's men's lacrosse team, sending the results to police and prosecutors who are investigating allegations an exotic dancer was raped at a team party, a spokeswoman for the state attorney general said today.
Noelle Talley said she could not divulge results of the tests, which the players and defense attorneys have said will show there was no rape or sex at the March 13 party.
"That would have to come from the district attorney or the police," she said.
Candy Clark, the administrative assistant to District Attorney Mike Nifong, said the prosecutor would not comment Monday on the results. She said copies were being made Monday afternoon for defense attorneys.
"If the defense releases them, that's up to them," Clark said. "If charges are going to be pending, he can't be discussing them."
A spokeswoman for the Durham police department did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
First, it looks like a wanted poster, implying the rape accusation is true without a shred of evidence to support her claim at this point. Second, as I understand it, she claomed she was assaulted by one or two of the players, not the whole team. Yet, the poster condemns the team and the taint of scandal will forever follow all those young men. If she made this up, I hope the families sue the living daylights out of that DA or the city.
Yes, thank you... I was on the phone and thought I heard the same thing on Fox. Did Abrams say when they got it back ?
The prosecutor knows who the members of the team are, these posters are an effort to smear the players in the eyes of the locals and their classmates. How does the prosecutor plan to handle the situation if one of these kids is recognized on the street and assaulted?
Time for the DA to defecate or abdicate.
Call me Nostradamus. I predict no LAX-boy matches.
I wonder who is responsibile for the posters ? It would appear to be LE or the DA.
Thanks. Do you know when the DA received the results ?
Tick tock...
Till the primary?
UPDATED: 4:30 pm EDT April 10, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The State Bureau of Investigation Monday afternoon delivered DNA results on members of Duke University's men's lacrosse team to Durham's district attorney, but the results will not be released to the public.
The results come more than two weeks after team members submitted DNA samples in connection with a rape investigation, in which an exotic dancer claims she was sexually assaulted and beaten.
Wow, I hadn't seen that.
And evidently Dan Abrams is going to backtrack on some things he's said about Duke on his show today.
The worst part of all of this is that if the stripper actually was raped, the case has been handled so horribly that it may be impossible to get a conviction.
Thanks, again, :) So it was today, I'd been suspicious that it might have been last week and that they sat on it over the weekend.
See post #281.
I couldn't agree with you more, on both points.
I hope there is a link to a video of Abrams' blast of the Sunday NYTimes op ed---He blistered the writer..deservedly so. Thanks for the head's up--I was able to catch it. He's now going to read emails from folks upset with releasing the accuser's prior record.
Even if the DNA matches one or more of the players, you'd need more than that for a rape charge. The woman could have been assaulted by someone else - perhaps the boyfriend - and then had consexual sex-for-pay with one or more of the players. If they have a photo of the woman showing injuries while she was doing her dance, that would really undermine her case even if there's a DNA match with someone from the team.
I agree. It's disgraceful.
I think he put them in harm's way.
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