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June 09, 2006

Comments

clarice

Isn't this an outrage? Matched only by the pusillanimous reaction by the Duke Administration.

Rimand

I don't understand. Can prosecutors really conceal evidence, file misleading motions, construct charges without evidence, and make public statements without ever being called to account (except at the inevitable election fixed by their party)?

richard mcenroe

See: Ronnie Earle

vnjagvet

I believe this evidences a profound misunderstanding of the purpose of a prosecutor's office, which is to do justice.

Doing justice includes doing justice to the accused and the accuser.

You are not doing justice to an accuser by bringing a case with this kind of objective evidence. Shifting and improbable stories, ambiguous medical evidence, lack of corroborative evidence all cry out for prosecutorial courage and discretion not to prosecute.

And you are not doing justice to an accused holding off the ultimate trial with this kind of evidence which, by its nature will not improve with time.

This case may result in very serious civil liability for Nifong and the County employing him.

I suspect NC tort lawyers are salivating at the opportunity to take on Nifong and company.

eric

Hey Tom, no comment on the Coulter brouhaha this week?

Carol Herman

The Lacrosse team is back in play at Duke. Whatever the Duke administration's first reaction was; it seems to understand that it "lost" when it stopped the team from playing.

And, like every silver lining; this story, because the INTERNET stayed on top of it, has given the DEFENSE a mechanism to be heard.

At first, it just seemed like a contest that if NiFong got elected, then he won; and the players were gonna get tortured.

Now, there's a shift.

WHich means the public is well aware that prosecutors aren't justice seekers. And, the excesses that have been in play for a long, long time need to be addressed.

Once lost, reputations aren't so easy to regain, again. And, while I feel bad for the players getting caught in this; exoneration is on its way. Let alone, the learning curve for the public who are quite aware, now, of what the railroad tracks look like when prosecutors think they can push their cases along on them. What would stop this stuff without calling a "crock" a "crock?" Fitz is paddling his boat in the same waters.

(Like Iraq, the terrorism will get worse before it gets better. But the bad guys are falling like flies.)

Tom Maguire

Hey Tom, no comment on the Coulter brouhaha this week?

It is very unusual for me to get drawn into Ms. Coulter's publicity stunts, and she enjoyed a bipartisan thumping from much bigger people than me.

I did want to mock the coverage provided by the NY Times - they noted Coulter's comments and Hillary's reaction, but only part of the Coulter riposte.

Patton

Why would anyone be shocked that the Lamestream would attack Coulter for attacking left wing activists?

Is that really news. Did anyone REALLY not know what the medias reaction would be?

Now if Coulter was a liberal she would be screaming she's being censored and her patriotism is under attack.

Specter

The Duke case is exactly what I was talking about in the other thread. While it used to be the prosecutor's job to weigh the evidence to determine if there was probable cause a judge would sign off on, it is that way no more (apologies to any "good" prosecutors out there - I am painting with a broad brush).

Nowadays - expecially in sex assault cases, there is a rush to judgement. Probable cause standards are actually lowered. It doesn't matter if evidence shows a person might be innocent - prosecutors don't drop charges because they will be beat up in MSM over - "Look at that - they let another one go...." Rather than look weak, they actually do things like hide evidence, lie, invade attorney-client privelege, etc. - anything to get the "perp" - innocent or not - to accept a plea deal.

And the thinking among the defense for quite a few years has been - go along - take the plea - it's how the system works and you don't want to go to court on these types of cases.

Now with false allegation cases skyrocketing, more people are starting to fight the issue - and they are winning.

In our society this is analagous to the rise of civil law suits - they became a "get rich" tool and people used them to their advantage. These cases are a tool used for revenge, advantage, or money. And people know they can use them for that. All it takes is a single accusation and there doesn't have to be proof. The accused has to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to clear their name - and even at that it is never really cleared because people will believe what they believe and they have been told for years now that if someone is accused then they did it. Baloney.

Don't get me wrong though. Even though the number of false allegations is rising, there are still true cases of assault out there. And justice must be done in them. There are real life true victims that have been hurt - and sometimes - often - very badly. Those types of cases need resolution with the actual "perp" doing time and getting help.

But in the other type of case - the false one - just who is the actual victim? If the investigators and prosecutors did their jobs the way they used to instead of just trying to clear cases, there would be more justice in the world.

verner

Just read this from a posted article at Sweetness and Light:

"Osborn says the accuser gave conflicting accounts of what happened. The motion says medical records indicate she told a doctor that she used no alcohol or drugs. The accuser told the sexual assault nurse that she had consumed one drink of alcohol and was taking Flexeril, a prescription drug used to treat muscle spasms."

Well, there's your date rape drug. She took flexeril--a muscle relaxant--followed up with alchohol. She may have been "coherant" when she got to the house, but as soon as that little cocktail reached the proper level in her bloodstream, she would have been falling all over the place--and likely blacked out for a time. That would explain her behavior with the police officer at the Kroger parking lot.

That's probably why the accuser didn't have her blood drawn--I bet she REFUSED to do it, as was her right, because she would have known that they would have found the flexeril and who knows what else. And she was on probation. Add that with what we now know--she was a prostitute (dancer indeed) who had a little party just before she went to the LaCrosse job.

That's it. Nifong needs his law License pulled. I have no doubt that the LaCrosse players were rude brats, but there is no way that woman was raped.

Gary Maxwell

I would be very interested to hear Squiggler's take on this latest, given a very unpleasant exchange we had several weeks ago. Not really interested in I told you so, I just want to see if you are convinced yet. If the Defense cant get you, some of the moonbats will never ever be convinced then, and Durham has more than its share of them.

sammy small

Specter,
The 24 hr courtroom news cycle, dramatization of selected cases, and the OJ trial all conspired to lower the definition of probable cause. Run of the mill prosecutors can now become media stars with a book and TV movie deal if things go right. It's their chance for 15 mintes of fame.

I hope cases like Duke will help to move the pendulum back towards a more reasonable position.

Bob

OT

Good article clarice!

"Haditha: Is McGirk the New Mary Mapes?
June 9th, 2006

Evidence accumulates of a hoax in Haditha. The weblog Sweetness & Light has done an estimable service gathering together the articles which cast substantial doubt on the charge of a massacre of civilians at Haditha . Because the blog is too busy gathering and fisking the news, I offered and the publisher accepted my offer to put what he has uncovered in a narrative form.

Having done so, I can tell you that the story has a whiff of yet another mediagenic scandal like the TANG memos or the Plame “outing.” While the Marines quite correctly will not comment on the case pending the outcome of their investigation, I am not bound by those rules, and I will sum up the story for you."

Read more here, but can't we discuss this here Tom?


http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=5566

richard mcenroe

But they have dicks! And testicles! They must be punished, for the sins of everyone who ever had dicks and testicles before them!

Gary Maxwell

If you have not seen the latest Scappleface go take a look. Scott Ott at his satirical zenith. "Democrats vow to Fight on After Zarqawi Loss".

maryrose


With tongue in cheek Scot Ott is telling it like it is.
Yesterday: Bad day at Black Rock for dems.

Sue

The GJ used to be where a prosecutor got to see how strong his case actually was. And by that I mean they would want the exculpatory evidence in the GJ room. Nowadays, especially in high profile cases, they want the indictment.

Gary Maxwell

OT Madagascar the animated movie is a favorite of my 11 year old. She must have seen it at least 4 times, and has memorized most of the funny lines of Ben Stiller and Chris Rock. She especially likes the monkeys and their lines about "flinging poo."

Apparently Democrats in Colorado like the movie too. A Democrat official was caught delivering a package filled with dog feces to a Republican congresswoman's office. She left her 9 digit zip code on the envelope which allowed them to trace it to her street and block. She has admitted it. To top it all of she is a Professor Emetrius at NCU. No shit.

Joel

Haha. Very funny. Sounds like a fishy case:)

Gary Maxwell

Different smell entirely Joel.

Sue

Wow...a meteor hit Norway. I hope Seixon is okay.

Specter

same ... uh....stuff, different day. Shows once again the sheltered life of academics. Ti imagine - someone could actually trace her through her zip code....nine digit one at that. LOL. I wonder what she teaches.

Patrick R. Sullivan

'Hey Tom, no comment on the Coulter brouhaha this week?'

Coulter is hardly the only person to have noticed the partisan purposes of the Jersey Girls. Debra Burlingame, the sister of one of the pilots of the plane crashed into the pentagon called them Rock Stars of Grief.

Dave in W-S

Specter: She taught French. Go figure.

Semanticleo

Way OT, but it seems mildly important, Maguire, since 'drop the charges' is what
Specter is pursuing in the compromise proposal to the NSA wiretapping bill.

From today's WAPO;

"Another part of the Specter bill would grant blanket amnesty to anyone who authorized warrantless surveillance under presidential authority, a provision that seems to ensure that no one would be held criminally liable if the current program is found illegal under present law."

A pardon before charges have even been filed?

Nice capitulation to Executive power, Specter!!

Tip to Greenwald.

Carol Herman

The SYSTEM creates the NiFong's!

Start with an old, obvious one. Getting one's name into the newspapers was always considered a plus. You became "famous." (Of course, Marshall McCluen identified it as the "15 minutes of fame" syndrome.) But it's powerful!

Then add local politics. How a good headline can boost the reputation of a prosecutor; where you get to see how far some go. GUILIANI KNOWS.

And, by this I mean the bait is there! If you can get the case that makes you famous, your career is on a role.

Then add that today kids are taught to "take the test." NOT THINK. And, you get a few, starting in the school age years, who learn how to use the system so they get the stars. When there's nothing with star quality about them.

Have we taken a turn for the worse?

Would Hugh Hewitt be able to write a book,nin 2004, spelling out how the democrats are losing voters, and how they intend to regain their majority BY STEALING IT. And, you discover their robbers are all lawyers. They write the laws that feed the elites.

And, Congress is OUT OF CONTROL. Are the congress critters a bit scared? Well, they want to keep their seats! (Even though a smart one like DeLay moves aside; the basic thrust is to take what they can, and the public be damned. Until they see the voters shifting gears.) This is more of a problem, now, for the donks. But the MSM set up is to benefit them; and hence we're embroiled in ugly, unseemly, court cases, where judges are NOT doing their jobs! And, one reason they're not, is that our Supremes gave them the pass. Do you know what it is? It's the "little comedy" that the "trier of fact" gets it right. (In Martha's case you couldn't even Appeal the injustice.) Blind justices, indeed. But not without price tags.

And, not without direction.

This mess will only get cleaned up with the Internet finds ways to focus on better judges, just as they did for Roberts and Alito.

Yup. The MSM didn't give these two men, or Kavanaugh, either, boosts to being confirmed.

Only the INTERNET did this.

And, only the INTERNET will get to watch what happens to the NiFong's and Fitzgerald's down the line. While the cases of merit are the ones where the juries set the victims free. Not good enough!

clarice

Thanks, Bob.

noah

I believe it was Andy Warhol who first opined about everyone eventually getting their "fifteen minutes of fame".

Clearly hyperbolic tho since the math doesn't work considering the size of the world's population. A nanosecond perhaps.

Gary Maxwell

Hey look Leo back flinging his own poo. At Arlen Specter no less. Fling away buddy, got little use for the guy myself.

Specter

Tic,

Really got to laugh if you actually thought any of that would ever get to court anyways. It would be the death toll for the Dems to push the issue. I mean clearly the majority of the country - by a wide margin - supports the NSA programs. And by 78-15 the Senate confirmed Hayden the architect of the program. Cry all you want - but that has been a done deal for months. The only thing left it to indict Rocky and a few NYT reporters and toss them in jail. That's coming.

cathyf

I wonder how much of this is an out-of-control plea-bargaining system. Where you dispense with all of the fact-finding functions of the judicial system and skip directly from police investigation to sentencing. The problem with the "who cares who's guilty, we'll split the difference" approach is that either way it's an outrage. The accused is guilty, and the punishment is outrageously low; the accused is innocent and it is and outrage that he is punished at all.

"The People" have an interest in the justice system, and it is to see that justice is done. When the police and prosecutors shift their interest to getting convictions no matter what the facts are, The People are getting screwed.

cathy :-)

Specter

It's not just that cathyf...it is the fact that the "business" of the court is to clear the docket. If they actually took all the cases that come in to trial, we would have trial lists that are 10 years long. You are right though that the investigative/prosecution side has become way to overzealous. And most people don't know or will never know how the system actually works here.

Javani

""Nowadays - expecially in sex assault cases, there is a rush to judgement. Probable cause standards are actually lowered.""

I discount the co-dancer's statement, they may have hated each other. And what about her leaving and the "victim" going back inside?

If she prior was with Mr. And Mrs. Kinky Couple and using toys on herself, forget, write her off, there goes away the plausible poor girl just stripping on the side, really a student first story. Jury verdict innocent in 10 minutes or less.

Dave

Clarice, think maybe the "It's A Crock" headline for this thread will be able to be reused for a Haditha discussion?

Gary Maxwell

Javani

The only corroborating evidence that I had always heard to support the rather wild account of the accuser gang rape tale consisted totally of : the testimony of her fellow "dancer" and the SANE nurse rape examination. Now we have a written statment in the record ( the Defense is saying this was withheld for some time which might put some investgators in hot water along with Nifong) in the 2nd dancer's own handwriting that debunks the whole timeline and calls the accuser's story a "crock". Think she might be more likely called by the Prosecutor or the Defense?

2ndly the SANE nurse is only a trainee and Dr. notes show no evidence of bruises on the neck ( no chocking ) and little evidence of anything else except edema ( or minor swelling of the vagina). Absolutely no evidence of any anal trauma or any foreign objects being used ( I would say sex toys specifically excluded ). Consistent with rape was the term the Prosecutor used. I would guess it also consistent with "girl made up wild story to get out of being put in drunk tank while on probation."

The clincher is the accuser admits to taking muscle relaxers and the 2nd dancer saw her drink at the party. The exact drug escapes me at the moment. Want to guess what the effect of a mixture of muscle relaxers and alcohol is? Stumbling around incoherent sound about right?

Tom Maguire

If she combined Flexeril with alcohol, good luck staying coherent.

Has anyone seen the actual defense motion and exhibits posted? I have been using PACER for federal stuff, but I have not probed the mysteries of the NC state system.

Finally, these latest stories point to two ways to end this case:

(a) a judge grants the motion, retroactively quashes the subpoena, and throws out the line-up. I would think the DA would have to drop the case at that point - how could he have another line-up now?

(b) per the dad, from the Times:

The woman's father said in an interview Thursday that she was seeing a psychiatrist and was in no condition to testify. "I don't know how long it'll be before she gets back in her right frame of mind," he said. "It could be years."

See, Nifong did his best to get her justice, but, regrettably, the strain and trauma were too much for her, she won't be able to testify, and the charges will have to be dropped. Another victory for the Man!

Well, that will be the Al Sharpton / Susan Estrich spin anyway. But the charges will be dropped, and I think that most of the public will consider the lacrosse guys to be cleared (some dead-enders will never believe they are not guilty regardless of the evidence, but most of those folks live in the reality-based community).


Gary Maxwell

Glad to help Mr. Maguire. here is the motion all 31 pages courtesy of WRAL

http://www.wral.com/download/2006/0609/9346930.pdf>motion to suppress

drjohn

It was a crock until Nifong threated to revoke her probation.

If there is a crock here, it's Nifong.

Javani

Thanks Gary. Seems she offered up the sex toy couple first.

I didn't think the couple would offer thta to the police!

Javani

"I would guess it also consistent with "girl made up wild story to get out of being put in drunk tank while on probation."

I hadn't thought of that until I read the brief, she wasn't taken straight to the hospital but the drunk tank first. Yep. She could have lied to get out of there.

Javani

Gary and Tom

I just read Kim's statement, which is in her own hand.

Clear, fairly cogent...that the DA rushed to file with this witness statement is not so far from amazing.

clarice

Yes, Tom, that appears to be the scenario..

Gary Maxwell

Javani

He had all the boys saying form the start that NOTHING happened plus the false accuser inconsistencies plus the only possible sympathetic witness calling her account a "crock". Yet he assailed the "Blue wall of Silence" and indict two and then in a fit of absolute madness a third who did not have the moustache she said the third guy did.

Idiot is far too kind a word for this. And maybe its unfair but right now it seems to me, all the judges and prosecutor playing fast and losse with the system are Democrats. One more reason to make sure they can not control the process any longer.

maryrose

clarice:
Great article, I enjoyed reading it. Mary mapes is some piece of work. Personally I feel she needs psychotherapy.

clarice

Thanks,maryrose..I think Tim of Arabia may be another piece of wrok, too.Checking up a bit on him--we was one of the first "wedding party" reporters. You know, every time we blew up a Taliban picnic is turned out to be a "wedding party".

clarice

**He(not We)***

windansea

accuser had sex with at least four men and sexual device before party

on drudge

maryrose

the fat lady is singing and it is an aria from La Traviata.

Neo

I think the fat lady sounds more like Wagner.

Carol Herman

I think the Internet was faster on this story, that the media had been on Tawana Brawley. (And, still to this day, Al Sharpton gets their pass!)

Tawana Brawley accused White Cops. And, the press corp didn't let up against them, until Brawley's story collapsed on its own.

The Internet is the new monitor. NiFong's career won't careen into "power politics" like Sharpton's, though.

When things change, they don't stay the same.

Duke's already put the team back into play. In Lacrosse,Duke's almost unbeatable. For an obscure game, the team will be building school spirit. WOn't go quietly into the night the way the white cops got no recognition following the Black hate crime of being attacked by Brawley. Worth considering those lessons in the public's mind.

mike nifong

Evidence?

I don't need no stinkin' evidence!

Other Tom

My experience (limited) is that it is extremely difficult to get an indictment dismissed unless the prosecutor agrees. This unprincipled bastard Nifong seems willing to let the matter simmer for another year, and then maybe drop it quietly. At the moment he is riding a tiger, and I suspect he doesn't have a clue as to how to get off.

Carol Herman

Yes, he does, Other Tom. He will assign this case to some poor jerk in his office. He won't go into court.

It's becoming an interesting contest. Because you can see it, too, with Libby.

Non-lawyers (like me), assume the only way out of trying the case in court is to get an agreement between the defendan'ts lawyers, and the prosecutors. OR, the judge steps in.

Here, from the way Reggie Jackson rules, he's not giving Fitzgerald an out at all. And, Libby doesn't seem to want to trade for a minor sentence (probation and a fine). he's willing to go to the mat.

The difference between Libby and Martha Stewart is in the LAWYERS they've chosen! (Heck, even Ms. Run Amok has a better lawyer than the nasty piece of work Martha chose "because she knew him from her circle of friends." Or from her country club.)

Martha's not the kind of woman you'd want to work for. In other words, she shares the title "queen of mean." Libby doesn't have this reputation!

Even Judith Miller, meeting him in person, in Colorado, when he came over at some rodeo to say hello, asked him who he was. She didn't recognize him. And, Libby was nice enough to say this happened because he wasn't wearing his typical suit. But was in jeans. In other words, even in akward situations, Libby seems like a really nice guy.

Once Blacks got passed their troubles, prior to Civil Rights, you'll notice they not only get to sit on juries. But they have players showing up in sports. And, people love them! They'll root for Blacks now; even though Jackie Robinson, back in the 1940's or 1950's had a very hard time breaking the color barrier in baseball.

In the same way, lawyers WELCOME Blacks on juries! I don't know why it was easy to draw another conclusion. Maybe, ya just need epiphanies? You start out with one idea; and then the light goes on.

Blacks, as a general rule, get challenged by prosecutors. There's a lesson in this, somewhere.

NiFong squeezed a case of his own creation; because he dropped evidence from the judge's eyes. He went ahead with a lineup that can't come into court. With evidence that now looks dismissable. And, he knows it.

What to do? In time, since I don't think he's anymore able to sell a probationary period in exchange for dropped charges, than Fitzgerald can. He'll just assign someone else. You don't think he could do it? Then you aren't aware of the scheduling problems you get when you get so busy you can choose what events you want to attend; and those you pass onto the unlucky people in your office.

Cute.

But there are no corrections in sight for incompetence, so far, on the horizon. Not that many lawyers get disbarred. Seems like the ABA needs the dues. (Okay, that's just a wild guess.)

Lib Von Douchbag

Marine Says Rules Were Followed
Sergeant Describes Hunt for Insurgents in Haditha, Denies Coverup

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/10/AR2006061001129_pf.html

Lib Von Douchebag

Left the "e" off for savings.

Betty Friedan

The stripper originally claimed that the second stripper helped with the rape!

Just when you think this case hit rock bottom, you find a sub-basement.

If Mike Nifong doesn't get disbarred after this, then there really is a corrupt system in Durham that protects rich white guys.

AFFIDAVIT OF COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO SUPPRESS NON-TESTIMONIAL PHOTOGRAPHS

3 (b) The probable cause affidavit implies there is no question that [deleted] was sexually assaulted on March 14, 2006, at 610 N. Buchanan by three men. But three days before Investigator Himan signed his affidavit, March 20, 2006, at 10:10am., Investigator Himan interviewed Kim Pittman, the only eyewitness to the events of March 14, 2006, at 610 N. Buchanan. Before Ms. Pittman was granted extremely favorable bond consideration by District Attorney Nifon personally on april 17, 2006, she told investigator Himan [ deleted ] allegation that she was sexually assaulted was a “crock.” Instead Investigator Himan alleged that [ deleted ] “reported that she was sexually assaulted for an approximate 30 minute period.”

3 (e), (8) She told Investigator Himan first that she had consumed a 24 ounce bottle of beer and thereafter that she had consumed two twenty-two ounce Ice House beers. Finally, She told the S.A.N.E nurse in training that Kim Pittman assisted the players in her alleged sexual assault and that Kim Pittman stole all her “money and everything.”

Neo

I wonder if the accuser's name is Tawana Braley.

richard mcenroe

Tawanna Braless, the Blackmailing Stripper!

anonymous coward

Tom McGuire’s legal analysis is in the right direction.

Here in Durham we know that
1. Nifong was up for re-election shortly after the incident, and so had to placate a significant portion of the local voting demographic or else lose the election.
2. Nifong knows how weak the case is; after the pre-election flurry of showing himself to the press as a the defender of the oppressed, he became silent on the case.
3. Nifong will not drop the case, no matter how weak, because that would tar him in the eyes of a certain voting bloc.
4. Nifong will let the judge throw out the case, but he is probably hoping the girl/her lawyers will see how weak the case is, and withdraw it. The too-shook-up-to-testify story fits in here. There is plenty of time for this to happen.
5. However the case goes away, Nifong will keep his reputation as defender of the oppressed.

ed

Hmmmm.

I think you're forgetting the $50 million x 3 civil lawsuit against the accuser, Nifong, Durham PD, the investigators, the Prosecutor's office, the city of Durham and perhaps Ms. Roberts the 2nd dancer.

And in civil cases there is no such thing, to my knowledge at least, as the 5th Amendment. I.e. you have to testify if required to do so. So nobody is going to be able to escape unscathed. And considering the massive amount of evidence against this rape case and the number of deliberate misrepresentations and manipulations involved. It's going to cost Durham residents a lot of money.

Dave

OMG it's either The Riddler or Matthew Lesko.

Daddy

I know how to write the Chinese character "Jo" (for 'drink'), on a bar napkin. Its sorta' looks like a box with legs and 3 exclamation marks flying off to the left. Perusing the above heiroglyphs I find what might be a vaguely similar character to "Jo" in the 10th line from the bottom of the posted column on the far right. Possibly the author is suggesting that the 2 twenty ounce Ice House Beers that the 'Victim' allegedly pounded, came in cans, not bottles, to which I would agree, but being no Champoleon I will leave the rest of the decipherment to others, while I go off and pop a cold Jo. Wor How Swy!

MayBee

Daddy-
Perhaps you are on to something. I see repititions of the characters for person, woman, and the number 3. Oh, and small.

Daddy

Maybee, Good evening, and thanks for the additional clues. With a couple more 'Jo's under our belts we ought to be able to convince ourselves it's the Gettysberg Address. BTW, when's Japan's World Cup match coming up? I was thinking they were playing the Aussies. And also, are they still trying to change the Law so that young Princess Aiko can become Empress, or is that on hold til the new Emperial grandkid pops out?

Specter

bye bye ????

cfw

Jarvani:

"If she prior was with Mr. And Mrs. Kinky Couple and using toys on herself, forget, write her off, there goes away the plausible poor girl just stripping on the side, really a student first story."

Mr and Mrs. K, guffaw! Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time....

Any bets on whether AV in fact had sex with Mr. K (with a condom) and forgot to mention that?

Hard to keep that performance with Mr. K (presumably on March 13) out of evidence under the rape shield law.

If the judge knows what he is doing, he can and should hold a pre-trial evidentiary hearing. Get some witnesses on the record (driver, Mr. K, nurse, doctor, investigators, Roberts, neighbor, taxi driver, maybe Evans, etc.), then urge the parties to talk privately (as in the Kobe case) about settlement, with the help of another judge/mediator.

Cases end, I suspect, with confidential settlements (no suits against Nifong, which are hard to win anyway, no money to AV), and S, F and E go on with their lives.

Hard to believe the case is only three months old tomorrow.

Betty Friedan

Ever since every sexist and racist group descended onto Duke to publicly condemn these boys, I went into over drive trying to make people consider that these boys wouldn't have submitted to DNA testing if they were guilty, but since the 1st DNA evidence came back, I became more persistent and met equally persistent feminist (i.e. feministing, Rachael’s Tavern, Alas a blog, Tennessee Guerrilla Women, Justice4Sisters, Hazel8500 etc...) who adamantly insist these boys are guilty for no other reason than because a "woman" (i.e. the stripper) claims it so.

I've noticed since then that most of feminist blogs have fallen silent as new evidence suggests that the stripper's claim to be false.

However, just when you think this case hit rock bottom, there’s about 50 feet of crap, then you find a sub-basement where in the corner Mike Nifong is hunched over clutching this dead case like “Gulum” (movie: Lord of the Rings) clutches the “ring of power”.

A great places to view facts are:

http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/ourcall/index.cgi?501
http://johninnorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2006/06/duke-lacrosse-newsweek-abandons.html
http://commonsensewonder.com/?p=738

I love this quote:

“If Mike Nifong doesn't get disbarred after this, then there really is a corrupt system in Durham that protects rich white guys. In Nifong's case - stupid rich white guys with transparent political agendas, but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Nifong can turn a pig's ear into a silk purse.”

Justice

"6 Football Players Questioned in Rape of Girl, 11
Police interview Fresno College football players in the alleged assault on an 11-year-old runaway"

Where is the outrage for this poor little girl seems to me it is double standard

Kevin

Someone should tell Durham's DA Mike Nifong that John Karr was cleared as a suspect in the JonBenet Ramsey case. His story was full of inconsistencies and there was no DNA match. THis sounds like a case Mike Nifong loves to sink his teeth into.

Mike Nifong

Regarding "Justice's" post: Why should there be outrage? He ws just questioned - not charged. And why would you just assume the 11 year old is telling the truth. As in the Duke case, false accusations of rape is very common.

fair minded people

Duke lacked courage

I have to agree with Gordon Grunte’s comments [Letters, Dec. 20] regarding how Duke University’s leadership handled the initial phase of the lacrosse story. My wife and I were upset with the lack of reason and courage exhibited by Duke’s leadership during that period and how they turned on and punished the entire team.
The only words of reason and support for these young men (the true victims) came from some of their fellow students. It was clear that many team members were guilty of bad judgment and poor behavior and that they probably violated team rules and Duke policies.

But regarding the rape charge—to anyone with an open mind and an understanding of our legal system, it should have been obvious that this case lacked merit and smacked of political opportunism. As one who loved the university even before I was fortunate enough to attend it (MBA,1981), I had always admired the tradition of Duke’s leadership and vision, as exhibited by leaders such as the late Terry Sanford.
This great university, its students, faculty, alumni, the Durham community and the great state of North Carolina need better leadership at Duke.

STEPHEN RICHARDS

Where’s the Durham outcry on lacrosse case?

You are right, Mike Silver. I am also tired of hearing from so many people across this great nation about the lacrosse crime. I ask you, where is the local outcry of the crime committed in Durham? All crimes should have proper punishment, regardless of race, financial or political status.

Yes, a serious crime was committed here, but, not by three Duke lacrosse players. Far too quick judgment brought shame and much undue anguish on them, their families, their teammates, their coach, Duke University and the entire community of Durham. Shame on Mike Nifong and shame on all those who elected him to office. Shame on Duke for not giving more support from the beginning. Shame on The Herald-Sun for jumping in too early with judgment.

Allowing these remaining serious charges to go on and on continues to hurt all of us in Durham and beyond who care about honesty and justice. Unfortunately, the new dropped rape charge has done lasting damage to all actual rape victims for years to come. I ask again … where is the Durham outcry and sense of honor?

BARBARA G. COLLIE

Resign and apologize

I stated a while back that regardless of any upcoming situations, Mike Nifong would eventually drop this insane case, after of course he secured his vote in November. Now that he has secured his position, along with some serious national heat he’s drawn upon himself, he’s decided to drop the charges. Now he claims it’s only because the woman has now stated she cannot say with certainty that she was raped.

If that was his true reasoning, then why wasn’t it dropped long ago when the former accuser had eight different stories? Point blank, Nifong used the race card among blacks to get his votes. The only real winner in this situation, despite being a single mom bearing yet another child, is the deranged individual herself, who will be receiving free education from no other than Jesse Jackson.

Dropping the case isn’t enough. Nifong should be forced to resign and apologize to the families he’s hurt. I cannot imagine how this man shows his face in public, without feeling like crawling under a rock.

Oh and if he’s reading, he might also want to drop those ridiculous kidnapping and sexual misconduct charges. Lord knows, it’s only going to cause him more embarrassment.

MIKE LANEER


Nifong turns to Times

I had to laugh when I read that Mike Nifong gave a three-hour interview to The New York Times. Putting aside his numerous previous statements that he would save all commentary for the courtroom, let’s focus on who he turned to when he decided to deviate from his self-imposed strategy.

Will breaking his silence by turning to a big New York publication cost him the support of this paper’s editorial staff? After all, they have printed sympathetic story after sympathetic story on Nifong’s behalf and he doesn’t even repay them with the scoop of his first comments in months?

And what about all the letter writers angry that citizens outside of Durham have voiced opinions in this case? Now Nifong has himself encouraged further meddling from outsiders in a case that he had previously stated requires “a Durham solution.”

PETER BOVE

Stubborn and misguided

I was glad to see the rape charges dropped against the three Duke lacrosse players, I only wish the rest of the case had been dismissed as well. Mike Nifong has shamefully represented the office of the District Attorney and has ruined three young men’s lives in the process. He knew from the beginning that his case had no merit, yet to save his own butt for re-election, he chose to charge the three men with rape to save face for the election.

He is a disgrace to the law profession, and if he had any dignity left at all, he would do the right thing and step down from his office. If I were a citizen in Durham I would be ashamed that Nifong represents me as district attorney. I look forward to the day the rest of the charges are either dropped or the defense makes Nifong look like an idiot in court and the jury finds not guilty on the remaining charges. Maybe then he will realize what a tragic error he has made. But then again, seeing how incredibly stubborn and misguided Nifong is, I wouldn’t count on it.


ANDY MACIEJEWSKI

Where is the state bar?

Mike Nifong is holding on tightly to the lesser charges only to save face and in the hopes that a gerrymandered jury will give him a conviction to justify his irresponsibility and criminality. Back in the 1990’s, United States District Judge Stanley Sporkin, having heard a series of savings and loan fraud cases, lamented, rhetorically and in hope, “Where were the lawyers?” It was his belief that lawyers for the fraudsters should have inserted themselves more aggressively into the process in an effort to mitigate the financial damage that was being wrought.

It is similarly fair now to ask “Where is the North Carolina State Bar Ethics Committee?” If a lawyer who happens to be a public official obstructs justice in violation of North Carolina law and in derogation of his oath of office, does that official have absolute immunity from ethical challenge—or is the North Carolina State Bar just another political player and race pimp? Such are the government structure of Durham County and the Duke administration, which was politically constrained to sacrifice a few white kids’ lives to mollify Rev. Al Sharpton and the other gods and demigods of racial intimidation.

JEFFREY MEYER

Again, the left tries to define media coverage

W. Russell Robinson [Letters, Dec. 23] must be sleeping in class. As an “instructor of mass communications,” he must be asking a rhetorical question. “What is so newsworthy about this story?” I can’t believe he has to ask. Then again, the idea of mass

communications, that is propaganda, is the extreme left’s definition of the news media. As an instructor, does he promote the manipulation of news by the media to, as he writes “effectively [change] the relations along the divides of race, gender and class ...”? Is that a news media purpose?

Most of us in the uneducated multitudes somehow still think a “newspaper” does not have the responsibility or right to “effectively [govern] the daily course of our lives.”
Try reading the coverage in The Herald-Sun once without your myopic view—if only the poor were rich there would be no injustice. It takes me half a month to earn what the accuser gets paid for an hour of her “services.” You do the math.

The events have happened to real people, their lives are changed forever, rich or poor, righteous or evil, true or false.

J. MICHAEL BONHAM

fair minded people

Duke lacked courage

I have to agree with Gordon Grunte’s comments [Letters, Dec. 20] regarding how Duke University’s leadership handled the initial phase of the lacrosse story. My wife and I were upset with the lack of reason and courage exhibited by Duke’s leadership during that period and how they turned on and punished the entire team.
The only words of reason and support for these young men (the true victims) came from some of their fellow students. It was clear that many team members were guilty of bad judgment and poor behavior and that they probably violated team rules and Duke policies.

But regarding the rape charge—to anyone with an open mind and an understanding of our legal system, it should have been obvious that this case lacked merit and smacked of political opportunism. As one who loved the university even before I was fortunate enough to attend it (MBA,1981), I had always admired the tradition of Duke’s leadership and vision, as exhibited by leaders such as the late Terry Sanford.
This great university, its students, faculty, alumni, the Durham community and the great state of North Carolina need better leadership at Duke.

STEPHEN RICHARDS

Where’s the Durham outcry on lacrosse case?

You are right, Mike Silver. I am also tired of hearing from so many people across this great nation about the lacrosse crime. I ask you, where is the local outcry of the crime committed in Durham? All crimes should have proper punishment, regardless of race, financial or political status.

Yes, a serious crime was committed here, but, not by three Duke lacrosse players. Far too quick judgment brought shame and much undue anguish on them, their families, their teammates, their coach, Duke University and the entire community of Durham. Shame on Mike Nifong and shame on all those who elected him to office. Shame on Duke for not giving more support from the beginning. Shame on The Herald-Sun for jumping in too early with judgment.

Allowing these remaining serious charges to go on and on continues to hurt all of us in Durham and beyond who care about honesty and justice. Unfortunately, the new dropped rape charge has done lasting damage to all actual rape victims for years to come. I ask again … where is the Durham outcry and sense of honor?

BARBARA G. COLLIE

Resign and apologize

I stated a while back that regardless of any upcoming situations, Mike Nifong would eventually drop this insane case, after of course he secured his vote in November. Now that he has secured his position, along with some serious national heat he’s drawn upon himself, he’s decided to drop the charges. Now he claims it’s only because the woman has now stated she cannot say with certainty that she was raped.

If that was his true reasoning, then why wasn’t it dropped long ago when the former accuser had eight different stories? Point blank, Nifong used the race card among blacks to get his votes. The only real winner in this situation, despite being a single mom bearing yet another child, is the deranged individual herself, who will be receiving free education from no other than Jesse Jackson.

Dropping the case isn’t enough. Nifong should be forced to resign and apologize to the families he’s hurt. I cannot imagine how this man shows his face in public, without feeling like crawling under a rock.

Oh and if he’s reading, he might also want to drop those ridiculous kidnapping and sexual misconduct charges. Lord knows, it’s only going to cause him more embarrassment.

MIKE LANEER


Nifong turns to Times

I had to laugh when I read that Mike Nifong gave a three-hour interview to The New York Times. Putting aside his numerous previous statements that he would save all commentary for the courtroom, let’s focus on who he turned to when he decided to deviate from his self-imposed strategy.

Will breaking his silence by turning to a big New York publication cost him the support of this paper’s editorial staff? After all, they have printed sympathetic story after sympathetic story on Nifong’s behalf and he doesn’t even repay them with the scoop of his first comments in months?

And what about all the letter writers angry that citizens outside of Durham have voiced opinions in this case? Now Nifong has himself encouraged further meddling from outsiders in a case that he had previously stated requires “a Durham solution.”

PETER BOVE

Stubborn and misguided

I was glad to see the rape charges dropped against the three Duke lacrosse players, I only wish the rest of the case had been dismissed as well. Mike Nifong has shamefully represented the office of the District Attorney and has ruined three young men’s lives in the process. He knew from the beginning that his case had no merit, yet to save his own butt for re-election, he chose to charge the three men with rape to save face for the election.

He is a disgrace to the law profession, and if he had any dignity left at all, he would do the right thing and step down from his office. If I were a citizen in Durham I would be ashamed that Nifong represents me as district attorney. I look forward to the day the rest of the charges are either dropped or the defense makes Nifong look like an idiot in court and the jury finds not guilty on the remaining charges. Maybe then he will realize what a tragic error he has made. But then again, seeing how incredibly stubborn and misguided Nifong is, I wouldn’t count on it.


ANDY MACIEJEWSKI

Where is the state bar?

Mike Nifong is holding on tightly to the lesser charges only to save face and in the hopes that a gerrymandered jury will give him a conviction to justify his irresponsibility and criminality. Back in the 1990’s, United States District Judge Stanley Sporkin, having heard a series of savings and loan fraud cases, lamented, rhetorically and in hope, “Where were the lawyers?” It was his belief that lawyers for the fraudsters should have inserted themselves more aggressively into the process in an effort to mitigate the financial damage that was being wrought.

It is similarly fair now to ask “Where is the North Carolina State Bar Ethics Committee?” If a lawyer who happens to be a public official obstructs justice in violation of North Carolina law and in derogation of his oath of office, does that official have absolute immunity from ethical challenge—or is the North Carolina State Bar just another political player and race pimp? Such are the government structure of Durham County and the Duke administration, which was politically constrained to sacrifice a few white kids’ lives to mollify Rev. Al Sharpton and the other gods and demigods of racial intimidation.

JEFFREY MEYER

Again, the left tries to define media coverage

W. Russell Robinson [Letters, Dec. 23] must be sleeping in class. As an “instructor of mass communications,” he must be asking a rhetorical question. “What is so newsworthy about this story?” I can’t believe he has to ask. Then again, the idea of mass

communications, that is propaganda, is the extreme left’s definition of the news media. As an instructor, does he promote the manipulation of news by the media to, as he writes “effectively [change] the relations along the divides of race, gender and class ...”? Is that a news media purpose?

Most of us in the uneducated multitudes somehow still think a “newspaper” does not have the responsibility or right to “effectively [govern] the daily course of our lives.”
Try reading the coverage in The Herald-Sun once without your myopic view—if only the poor were rich there would be no injustice. It takes me half a month to earn what the accuser gets paid for an hour of her “services.” You do the math.

The events have happened to real people, their lives are changed forever, rich or poor, righteous or evil, true or false.

J. MICHAEL BONHAM

Nice Guy

Crystal Gail Mangum's lies of were so detailed, that she can't use feminist rhetoric to get out of them

FOOTNOTES
(1) Collin Finnerty "is the guy who assaulted me . . . . He put his penis in my anus and my vagina." Transcript of April 4 Powerpoint Identification, 1/11/07 Motion at 11 (Discovery at 1838). "At that point Matt then moved around to her front side where he penetrated her vagina.” Gottlieb Notes, 1/11/07 Motion at 11 (Discovery at 1817). "Matt had her legs and Brett was behind her and put his private part in her anus and in her vagina. . . . ." Himan's Interview, 1/11/07 Motion at 12 (Discovery at 1208).

(2) “That’s when Adam came around back and put his private part in my butt." Sane Interview, 1/11/07 Motion at 12 (Discovery at 539).

(3) “Adam said yes you can and then that was [when] Matt put his private part in me and did not use a condom." Sane Interview 1/11/07 Motion at 11 (Discovery at 538).

(4) “She stated that Brett was behind her and was the first to sodomize and then to rape her. She stated that Brett ejaculated . . . ." Gottlieb's Interview, 1/11/07 Motion at 12 (Discovery at 1817).

(5) "Matt started having sex with me in my vagina and he got frustrated because he said he couldn't come, He [sic] had sex with me for about 2 minutes in my vagina. . . ." Accuser's Handwritten Statement, 1/11/07 Motion at 12 (Discovery at 810).

(6) “Brett had sex with me in my vagina he stopped after about 5 minutes, then he put his penis in my anus for about 2 minutes." Accuser's Handwritten Statement, 1/11/07 Motion at 12 (Discovery at 810).

(7) "Matt had her legs and Brett was behind her and put his private part in her anus and in her vagina. She stated that she thinks he ejaculated . . . ." Himan's Interview, 1/11/07 Motion at 12 (Discovery at 1208). “She stated that Brett was behind her and was the first to sodomize and then to rape her. She stated that Brett ejaculated . . . ." Gottlieb's Interview, 1/11/07 Motion at 12 (Discovery at 1817).



Now she says she was too traumatized to remember what actually happened?

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