Posted on 06/13/2007 12:30:09 PM PDT by ricks_place
RALEIGH - The Durham District Attorney never asked the director of a DNA lab to produce a report of all test results in the Duke University lacrosse case. And as a result, defense lawyers for three indicted lacrosse players had to discover for themselves test results that were favorable to the players.
In a disciplinary case against Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong, lawyers for the State Bar want to prove that the prosecutor tried to keep lawyers for the players from learning of the complete test results.
The tests turned up genetic material from unknown men, but this information was not in a report given to the players' lawyers.
Today's testimony from Brian Meehan, director of DNA Security in Burlington, would suggest that Nifong planned to turn over the full test results at some point. But under questioning from prosecutor Douglas Brocker, Meehan said Nifong didn't follow through.
"Prior to Jan. 12, 2007, which is when Mr. Nifong recused himself...did you ever issue a final report with all the results and examinations?" Brocker asked.
"No we did not."
"Why not?"
"Well we weren't asked," Meehan said. "We were in a holding pattern. We were waiting for someone in Mr. Nifong's office to call and tell us to do that."
The tests found DNA from unknown men on the body and underwear of escort service dancer Crystal Gail Mangum, who claimed she had been raped at an off-campus team party in March 2006.
Lawyers for the accused players did not learn that the test had excluded their clients until more than six months after Meehan discussed the finding with Nifong. A defense lawyer had to labor over nearly 2,000 pages that a judge ordered turned over to the defense teams.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsobserver.com ...
He oughta be up on federal civil rights charges for intentionally withholding that Brady material.
The bill for that legal work, at top dollar, should come out of Nifong's pocket.
All I can think of is all the $$$ those families laid out to the attorneys from the time this information was known until the time the ordeal was over.
And these 3 guys who will forever be tainted by this unscrupulous man.
I believe that the English Common Law tradition (on which out system is based, IIRC) dictates that treble damages are in order also.
No doubt he will find his own DNA up his arse as it appears that he has majorly screwed himself.
So much for equal justice.
It’s good that he is on trial. He is a criminal and needs to be in jail. He used, for his own advancement, the full armed power of the law-enforcement arm of government, which comes with handcuffs, mace, guns, and the power to throw people into jail.
I was watching Fox yesterday and Gibson had one their usual blond legal analyst lady who had been covering this(name slips my mind) and that black woman who is a former prosecutor named Sunny something I believe. I swear I have to change anytime that Sunny lady comes on. She sat there and said Nifong should not be disbarred and denied it had already been proven Nifong hid exculpatory evidence from the defense. Then she goes and starts the whole “the boys aren’t angels, they hired a stripper” irrelevant nonsense. Gibson finally got the two to make a $100 bet on whether Nifong would be disbarred. Anyone else see that? God, I hate that lady.
Is there some inside joke I’ve missed, with the Gibson references? Anyway, it was Bill O’Reilly’s show, with guests Megan (formerly Kendall) Kelly and that Sunny whacko.
I saw that, too. The Sunny whacko is scary. No accountability for an abuse of the system? Or, with her, was it “situational?”
Anyway, I thought there was a “smoking gun” out there somewhere, where the DNA lab director stated Nifong told him he deliberately DIDN’T want to see the results in writing, having been VERBALLY told what they were. Or I am making this up?
It is called “affirmative action”, but is actually racial discrimination authorized by the government.
I saw her and agree - whe is VERY annoying. Her voice! How stupid to try and equate hiring strippers with being charged with raping her! I bet if the boys had been black and stripper white she’d sing a different tune. Listening to the logic of many of the lawyers in these cases makes me think it must not take much to be a lawyer!! ANyone who thnks Nifong shouldn’t disbarred and I think charged with crimes should have their heads examined!
Gibson finally got the two to make a $100 bet on whether Nifong would be disbarred. Anyone else see that? God, I hate that lady.
Yes, I saw it. My analysis: Attorney+lack, striper+black=racial bias. I hope Nifong get his head handed to him on a plate for what he did to those boys, their families and to their future families just to further the career of a two bit, small town DA. Disgusting! Not only do I want him disbarred, I want him to have to pay attorny’s fees these families shelled out to protect the innocent!!!!!! Oh, and no pension either!!!!!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1784719/posts
See above example
Does North Carolina criminalize “exotic dancing” or is it a legal occupation/hobby/fetish?
I saw this Sunny or whoever and she was incredibly dumb. How could have made it through law school?
Affirmative action
Looks like he’s indicted his last ham sandwich (obscure legal reference).
Make no mistake about it, Mike Nifong is a criminal. His actions to serve himself at the expense of innocent people are really no different than those of the bank robber serving himself at the expense of all the rest of us. He is a disgrace to the bar and a disgrace to the justice system we were all taught to believe in.
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