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 hope this DA (dumb ass) is content. He has stirred a lot of stuff that shouldn't have been stirred. He has laid some groundwork for a potentially dangerous situation in Durham. IMO, of course.
Let me say again--thanks for your excellent postings on this from the beginning...You have been fair and balanced..and right on point! Thanks--I suspect the DA will drop tomorrow.
Yeah, but how much do you want to bet the media leaves that information out of their sensationalist reports?
Players' attorneys say no matches found; woman claimed she was raped at team party
The Associated Press
Originally published April 10, 2006, 6:02 PM EDT There is no DNA match between members of Duke University's men's lacrosse team and an exotic dancer who told police she was raped at a team party, attorneys for the team said Monday.
Citing DNA test results delivered by the state crime lab to police and prosecutors a few hours earlier, the attorneys said the test results prove their clients did not sexually assault and beat a stripper hired to perform at a March 13 team party.
No charged have been filed in the case.
"No DNA material from any young man was present on the body of this complaining woman," said defense attorney Wade Smith.
The alleged victim, a 27-year-old student at nearby North Carolina Central University, told police she and another woman were hired to dance at the party. The woman told police that three men at the party dragged her into a bathroom, choked her, raped her and sodomized her.
Authorities ordered 46 of the 47 players on Duke's lacrosse team to submit DNA samples to investigators. Because the woman said her attackers were white, the team's sole black player was not tested.
So... when do the riots start?
Well that's gonna hurt the DA's case .. plus pictures
Rioting at 9:00; as soon as it's dark. I think this is the most dangerous time for those players if the victim's family and friends decide to take things into their own hands.
TAWANA BRAWLEY...
I bet she'll now say that The Governor, Mayor, Dean of the college, the head of the local Republican party and Dick Cheney actually raped her.
The DA is an idiot. He has tried this case in the press and now he is stuck.
I despise women who make false rape accusations, it creates skeptism in legitimate cases and puts women who have actually been assaulted to go through needless additional anguish.
what victim...only victim here are the players
Yes. You're right.
Their first assertion is always POLICE cover-up.
Yes, if Kimberly Guilfoyle was a REAL WOMAN, she'd resign in disgrace.
She said they were guilty and covering up every single night.. Even after the Criminal record came out.
.
I'm glad! He tried to ride this to reelection by trashing those boys.
DNA does not match lacrosse players
Lawyer for player releases results
Newly released DNA tests show no indication that members of Duke University's lacrosse team raped the exotic dancer who contended she was assaulted at a house party last month, according to a lawyer representing one of the players. Newly released DNA tests show no indication that members of Duke University's lacrosse team raped the exotic dancer who contended she was assaulted at a house party last month, according to a lawyer representing one of the players.
What's more, the other dancer who accompanied the alleged victim after the party said the woman never told her that she was raped that night, according to Charlotte lawyer Pete Anderson, who is representing one of the players.
"No charges should be brought. The investigation should be closed," Anderson said. "...There's no scientific evidence to corroborate the allegations."
Attorneys: No DNA Match in Duke Scandal - Washington Post
District Attorney Mike Nifong stopped speaking with reporters last week after initially talking openly about the case, including stating publicly that he was confident a crime occurred. He went on to say he would have other evidence to make his case should the DNA analysis prove inconclusive or fail to match a member of the team. Smith said Nifong now has the evidence needed to change his mind. "He doesn't have to do it," Smith said of filing charges. "He is a man with discretion. He doesn't have to do it, and we hope that he won't." DNA Test Results Appear to Clear Duke Students of Sexual Assault Charges
by Jim Kouri - According an extensive series of DNA tests, there was no DNA from any Duke University students accused of raping a stripper found on the complainant's body, clothing or anywhere else on her or her belongings, according to the DNA test results.
The test results strongly suggest that the woman who claims she was sexually assault by members of the Duke LaCrosse Team was not raped or assaulted by any of the students, according to attorneys on both sides of the case.
In addition, the defense attorneys stated that forensic technicians found no DNA from the alleged victim in the students' house.
Judge Andrew Napolitano of Fox News stated that this case is either a hoax or a vendetta by the woman against the students because they didn't pay her enough for her striptease.
I'm always so glad we can "share" cases like these together; it doesn't seem fair for us all to be mumbling at our respective TVs all by ourselves, does it? :-)
The weekend, unless they drag her onto the shows tonight!
Is the DA backing off his assuredness in his "victim"? To save face, he should go after her with a vengeance, but he won't.
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