RSSNorth Carolina AG to Drop Charges in Duke Lacrosse Case
As anticipated, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper will drop all charges against the three Duke Lacrosse players. This ordeal looks like it is finally over; however, this case did not have a chance for quite some time. It was all a matter of how to end it. Now we look to the future for the law suits filed by the accused.
The three players, Reade Seligmann, David Evans and Collin Finnerty, were facing charges of first degree kidnapping and first degree forcible sexual offense. The charges stem from an off-campus party on the night of March 13, 2006.
Special prosecutors from the Attorney General’s office took over the case after Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong recused himself in January, citing charges of unethical conduct filed against him by the North Carolina Bar. Since then, Jim Coman and Mary Winstead have examined the case from scratch, interviewing key witnesses and working through reams of evidence.
The reasons that will be cited for the dismissal are not yet known, though the case has been riddled with criticism and colored by controversy since its early months. Defense attorneys released documents showing the accuser changed key details of her story in the weeks and months after the alleged assault. (ABC News)
What a travesty of justice this case was for both rape victims and the accused for the future. Nifong should be ashamed of himself. Nifong has harmed both victims and accused in rape cases for the future. All in what can only be seen as on all appearances as for political reasons. What a mess.
Decision in Duke lacrosse case awaited
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Three members of Duke University’s lacrosse team could learn as early as Wednesday whether state prosecutors will drop the remaining charges accusing them of sexually assaulting a stripper at a team party more than a year ago.
Red State: “Where do I go to get my reputation back?”
UPDATE I: Prosecutors Drop Charges in Duke Case
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Prosecutors dropped all charges Wednesday against the three Duke lacrosse players accused of sexually assaulting a stripper at a party, saying the athletes were innocent victims of a “tragic rush to accuse” by an overreaching district attorney.
Attorney General Roy Cooper, whose office took over the case in January after District Attorney Mike Nifong was accused of ethics violations in his handling of it, announced Wednesday afternoon that case shows clearly insufficient evidence.
“The result is these cases are over,” Cooper said.
If you liked this post, you may also like these:
Comments
26 Responses to “North Carolina AG to Drop Charges in Duke Lacrosse Case”
Leave a Reply
You know as Red said where does one go to regain their reputations.
I realize that they may sue the Attys and the area offices that accused them and the prosecutor .
BUT what about the Woman that falsely accused these men ?
I really doubt that she has little if any financial resources to speak of so what can these men who now have tainted reputations whether they are told or not how many positions that they will apply for in life will they not be hired for
or approved for that unbeknownst to them will be turned down for ?
So what will be this woman’s punishment if any ?
Well to begin with she will have the citizens to thank for paying for her Attys defense fees so No sweat off her brow really .
Might I suggest that she NOT ever be eligible for any state benefit’s program’s IE: welfare Food stamps child care ect .
This is the only thing that I can see that she could sacrifice that might even make her think about what a despicable thing she did to these young men that were in a school, trying to better themselves and become citizens that pay taxes and are a addition to society and not a burden .
This is just my opinion , thanks for your time .
Ol Jer from Ohio
Amazing it took this long. The fact the accuser was a vicious, men-hating, lying whore was obvious to me from day one.
I also find it even MORE amazing that so many persons (not necessarily Monkeys) voiced feelings that the boys “were getting what they deserved”. NOT A ONE who said such a thing seemed to notice the accuser was not in a position she should have placed herself in either. Soooo…if those persons want to stay consistant…let’s all say she is about to get what she deserves too if this country has a judicial system worth anything at all any more.
Too bad for real rape victims who will be looked at more closely now due to such a selfish act on the accuser’s part. That false accuser/liar should spend quite alot of time in jail. (Would be beautiful if she and Nifong had to share a cell.)
Brenda
If a white stripper had FALSELY accused three black students of rape and battery – there would be blood in the streets!
I haven’t heard anyone yelling about “racial insensitivity”
in defense of THESE three accused students!
Btw – where has the ACLU been, lo these past twelve months?! Why weren’t the rights of these men defended?
It’s about time we know this “accusers” name! Why is HER reptutation being protected when she had so little regard for anyone else’s?
As I said from the start I thought she saw dollar signs when she knew these kids had money. But I was called a few names for being cold hearted. A woman in her field knows when you go to a party with alot of young college guys what could happen. I’m not saying things were her thought I’m just saying if she was drinking and they were drinking and got friendly, sex took place, but I think both parties were concenting. And who turned out to be the baby’s daddy? Her dad said she already had some kids so she’s not a first timer at this! I hope the boys can get their lifes back on track but look at all the time they have missed.
40 drunken 20-year-old white boys and 2 black strippers at an off-campus college sports team party… doesn’t take a college degree to figure that there was trouble for all going to come of that night.
Kudos#5
I still think somewhere in this mess there was a payoff.
Don’t you think it’d be fair if Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow Coalition would offer the boys a free education due to the trauma they’ve been put through.?
Come to think of it, when’s the last time his organization did anything for a caucasion???
I THINK THE BIGMOUTH BLACKMAILER THE CROOKED JESSE JACKSON
SHOULD BE SUED FOR ATTEMPTING TO START A RACIAL RIOT.
HE JUMPED ON THIS LIE AND TRIED TO EXPAND IT INTO A NATIONWIDE CAUSE THAT HE COULD EXTRACT MORE MONEY FROM WHITE WEAKLINGS.HE CLAIMS TO BE A BLACK SOCIAL ECONOMICAL
POOR SOUL, BUT IS ACTUALLY A LYING WOMANIZING {{edit}}
WHO STEALS FROM THE HELPLESS.
Jesse Jackson needs to pay the accused lawyers fees.
Anytime our judicial system breaks down, it is a shame and and affront to all American citizens. As with the frequent exoneration of long term prisoners show, our process is not perfect. There did not appear to be some vendetta to “get these guys”. Even though the false accusations have caused a detour in their lives, they will move on. Not that it makes it right, but if the team had not had a party with underage drinking and having a stripper who in other situations would only be allowed to scrub their floors, this would not have happened. “Iffy” situations can lead to not so welcome endings.
Dear #8,
Yup. A coworker and I were just discussing the “Reverend Jackson”. He’s about as good a representative of Christ as Nifong is of a representative of honest law enforcement at work. It’s all about “me” in their cases.
By the way, anyone else think Al Sharpton looks like the clone of Don King (no offense to Mr. King…)? Difference is Mr. King does not pretend to be anything other than what he is…and King has better hair ;>)
Brenda
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,265374,00.html
Welp….accuser’s name/face is now public.
Brenda
The DA should pay all legal fee’s and damages.
Yeah Murph; DA Nifong should be held accountable for something. He never even talked to this woman, yet he pressed all of these charges and made all of those remarks on TV and in print. I realize that alot of folks wanna crucify Crystal, but how do we know what she really said since Nifong admitted he never talked to her? She picked 3 pictures out of a line up that was totally against line up mandates. She is bad for making an initial statement, but DA Nifong is the one who blew this whole mess out of proportion. Women everyplace may never want to go to any DA again about possible rape charges. He is as much to blame as Crystal
This black girl accused three white men of raping her. This lie caused alot of hurt and damage to these young men. Its almost like the Tawana Brawley incident. Its about time that Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and most of the black people stop useing the color of their skin as a crutch! The prosecutor is just as guilty for his actions by proclaiming to be the white knight for the black community.
#15 ron, you said it pal. Where is the remarks from the “Reverends” that the Black H.. falsley accused the boys ?
So know there all that DNA is out there for what. Take all the fees that these fellas had to pay for legal fees from nipongs retirement account. Where is the outrage for these guys…none?
Nifong should be disbarred. He is a disgrace.
While we are at it, lets stop using color, and scape goats. Don Imus said something bad, but it doesn’t warrant all this outrage. Where was the outrage with Jesse Jackson called NYC hymietown? Its time for Jesse to go, Its time for Al to go.
Its time for all the black rap artists who denigrate all african american women with their lyrics to go.
Boycott all of them until we brin COMMON SENSE BACK!
The sum of three and 1 is four.
Finnerty has been convicted of a crime.
I will say this … as there are no real heros is this case.
1. Nifong should be disbarred.
2. This never would have happened if the Duke Lacrosse team never hired a stripper.
3. There was a belief by many that the lacrosse team did it because they had a reputation on campus for constantly getting into trouble. That is why their coach bolted the scene.
4. Falsely accusing people, especially of rape is as bad as it gets.
5. Having a prosecutor disregard evidence and refuse to even seek it is even worse.
6. This case has unfortunately set back women in rape cases. Especially those that people automatically judge.
R
#12 Brenda thanks for the article. Seems she has a habit of saying she’s been kidnapped and raped or nearly killed since she was 14?
The prosecutor definately should have investigated the case more thoroughly before going forward with it
SM you are 100% correct with your statement. I feel sorry for women whom this actually happens to. This girl needs help it’s not the first time she has done something like this.
U R welcome Slogmonster.
Had Nifong done his job, he’d have also investigated this woman to be sure her statements/integrity were where they should be. NO WAY he didn’t know about these past incidents with her/ Had he acted responsibly, this case would have never come to be. Either Crystal would have been slapped at the beginning with “making false statements” (probation and small fine), or just told the evidence did not support her statement and no charges would be filed on the boys. Then…the college could have disciplined appropriately. Or at least SHOULD have were they given the opportunity.
I think the boys are showing MUCH character by choosing not to prosecute her. She really is a mess, not that it gives her an excuse, but Nifong had to know this and was only after the black vote and possibly even national attention.
On another subject, why do some black people feel they can’t move forward in life without using the race card? Shows me they do not believe they can get far without it. Too bad.
Also…what is up with wanting to be called African-American? They weren’t born in Africa. Maybe I should call myself a German-American, or Scotch-Irish-American. Next it will be Mexican-American. God help the USA.
Brenda
[...] $30 million. The three Duke Lacrosse players, David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann, who have all been cleared on rape charges brought against them by the shameless actions of disgraced ex-DA Mike Nifong are now looking for [...]
[...] downward spiral continues for former North Carolina DA, Mike Nifong. First he lost his credibility, then he lost his job, then he was sued, then he was disbarred, then he was sentenced to jail and [...]
Brenda, you wrote that she (the stripper)is a vicious lying men hating whore. i wonder how you have so much insight on this woman. I do believe what she did was absolutely wrong and unforgiveable yet name calling does not solve a thing. I do not see black nor white, i see wrong and right. Because she is a stripper does that make her the the slim of the earth? what close minded judgemental people we have become. Do you know that on Wall street (in NYC) in the Crunch gym white successful well to do women are paying for classes that teach you how to dance and move like a stripper. They say it’s good “excercise”. That is hilsrious to me. My old boss (well in her 50′s) went to that class religiouly, never missed a day. To make it even funnier the “instructor” was a ex stripper.
what this woman did had everything to do with morals not occupation nor color. By the way, i am Black, was a stripper and now I am a Dr. of six years working in the cardiology dept. Not to blow my own horn but I am rather good at what i do. lol