Rape Charges Dropped in Duke Case
 

Rape Charges Dropped in Duke Case
Dec 22 12:43 PM US/Eastern

By AARON BEARD
Associated Press Writer
DURHAM, N.C.


Prosecutors dropped rape charges Friday against three Duke University lacrosse players accused of attacking a stripper at a team party, but the three still face kidnapping and sexual offense charges, a defense attorney said.

Joseph Cheshire and attorneys for the other players have said for months the woman told several different versions of the alleged assault.

Cheshire said Friday that the accuser now says she does not know if she was penetrated, which he said led District Attorney Mike Nifong to dismiss the rape charges.

Nifong did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

The accuser, a 28-year-old student at North Carolina Central University, has said three men raped her in a bathroom at a March 13 team party where she was hired to perform as a stripper.

The players _ Dave Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann _ all say they are innocent. Their attorneys have consistently said no sex occurred at the party and have cited a lack of DNA evidence in the case as proof of their clients' innocence.

"It's highly coincidental," Cheshire said, that the charges are being dropped a week after the director of a private DNA testing lab acknowledged that he initially, with Nifong's knowledge, withheld from the defense test results showing none of the players' DNA was found on or in the accuser's body.

Testing also showed that genetic material from several males was found in her undergarments and body.

About time. this will get brushed over easy with holiday stories. Hope it ruins the Prosecutors career.

I suppose Nifong didn't like the idea of being investigated by the Justice Department.

FAX

I hope she starts getting tipped in very cold, small denomination coins.

Nifong should be executed.

F*@# Duke.

FU*K Nifong.

fu+K FU+K!!!!!

Oh, what a tangled web...

Any chance that the players can countersue or sue the DA's office? This entire thing was a freaking mockery of our system.

I think its safe to say this never goes to trial.

I'm not a lawyer, yada yada yada, but my understanding is there's not alot the accused can do directly. If the case goes to trial and it comes out that there was more information withheld a civil rights lawsuit is possible but at this stage not enough has been done from a legal point of view to get a suit going. Not to say that the prosecutor isn't a slimebag but pre-trial the "damage" the accused could sue for is limited. This is the reason I say it never goes to trial, if it does Nifong opens himself and his jurisdiction up to lawsuits, they won't want to proceed unless they have a really strong case and with the likelihood of having the lineup and ID thrown out I don't see how they could win even if the guys are guilty.

What Grand Jury would indict on her testimony now? Or for that matter what DA would pursue this any further? Kidnapping? You gotta be fu c kin g kidding me.

I hope the hooker gives Nifong aids.

Yep

but they found semen in her underwear?