Prosecution hides DNA results for 6 months in Duke rape case

[JMT]

drop the goddamn charges already.

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Key DNA Evidence in Duke Rape Case Withheld From Defense for Six Months, Lawyers Charge

Thursday, December 14, 2006

DURHAM, N.C. — Buried in thousands of documents handed over to defense lawyers by the district attorney in the Duke rape case was a stunning report from a private lab hired by the prosecution that found DNA from multiple males in the accuser's body — but none that belonged to the accused players, according to a defense motion filed Wednesday.

The lab, DNA Security of Burlington, found during tests performed last April that not only did the DNA not match the three defendants, but that it also did not belong to any of their lacrosse teammates or anyone else who submitted DNA samples to police, including the accuser's boyfriend. Those findings were not turned over to the defense until October, when District Attorney Mike Nifong's office turned over thousands of case-related documents.

"This is strong evidence of innocence in a case in which the accuser denied engaging in any sexual activity in the days before the alleged assault, told police she last had consensual sexual intercourse a week before the assault, and claimed that her attackers did not use condoms and ejaculated," lawyers for the three accused players said in the motion.

Neither DNA Security or Nifong — who has come under intense criticism for his handling of the case — explained Wednesday why the DNA findings were not reported immediately to defense lawyers, as is required by law, or why they were not turned over to the defense until October...

FULL STORY: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,236362,00.html

[slamminshaun]

You should know by now, that when events don't unfold the way the media wants them to unfold, they bury the story. Are journalists supposed to want a story to end up a certain way?

Regardless, the rape "victim" will still get a free ride courtesy of Jesse Jackson. He said all along, that regardless of how this plays out, he is going to fund her entire college education.

Jesse to award scholarship to "victim"

[raffa711]

Whore !!!!!

[Oni]

I thought all along that she was bullshitting.

[Oni]

What a dumb slut. I just had to add that. Did she REALLY think she could pull one over on them? Sheesh. What a moron.

[V. Barbarino]

It's time for the media to start using her name and picture...

[xmuzik]

everyone get out your torches and pitch forks it's time for the mob mentality to begin to take over ............ Natalie Holloway part 2 : Da Return !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JMT]

Head of DNA lab says he and Nifong agreed not to report results

Published: Dec 15, 2006 09:56 AM

The head of a private DNA laboratory said under oath today that he and District Attorney Mike Nifong agreed not to report DNA results favorable to Duke lacrosse players charged with rape.


Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong

Brian Meehan, director of DNA Security of Burlington, said his lab found DNA from unidentified men in the underwear, pubic hair and rectum of the woman who said she was gang-raped at a lacrosse party in March. Nurses at Duke Hospital collected the samples a few hours after the alleged assault. Meehan said the DNA did not come from Reade Seligmann, David Evans, or Collin Finnerty, who have been charged with rape and sexual assault in the case.

Meehan struggled to say why he didn’t include the favorable evidence in a report dated May 12, almost a month after Seligmann and Finnerty had been indicted. He cited concerns about the privacy of the lacrosse players, his discussions at several meetings with Nifong, and the fact that he didn’t know whose DNA it was.

Under questioning by Jim Cooney, a defense attorney for Seligmann, Meehan admitted that his report violated his laboratory’s standards by not reporting results of all tests.

Did Nifong and his investigators know the results of all the DNA tests? Cooney asked.

“I believe so,” Meehan said.

“Did they know the test results excluded Reade Seligmann?” Cooney asked.

“I believe so,” Meehan said.

Was the failure to report these results the intentional decision of you and the district attorney? Cooney asked.

“Yes,” Meehan replied.

At that answer, several people in the packed courtroom clapped. Superior Court Judge W. Osmond Smith III warned the standing-room only crowd to be quiet or leave.

Meehan’s testimony differed from a statement Nifong made at the beginning of today’s hearing.

“The first I had heard of this particular situation was when I was served with this particular motion” on Wednesday, Nifong told the judge. After court, Nifong clarified his remarks to say that he knew about the DNA results.

"And we were trying to, just as Dr. Meehan said, trying to avoid dragging any names through the mud but at the same time his report made it clear that all the information was available if they wanted it and they have every word of it,” Nifong said.

Joseph B. Cheshire V, a lawyer for Evans, said he was troubled by today’s testimony.

“If any of the lacrosse players were excluded, they simply wouldn’t put it in the report,” he said. “It raises some troublesome questions about (Nifong), who has an obligation to disclose exculpatory evidence and turn it over to the defense.”

In a response to reports that the accuser in the Duke lacrosse case gave birth recently, UNC Health care issued a statement at about 1:30 p.m. saying that the woman is at UNC Hospitals for care related to her pregnancy but has not given birth.

http://www.newsobserver.com/1185/story/521773.html

[V. Barbarino]

They are gonna sue the pants off that DNA lab and Nifong may wind up in jail at this point.. As for the dumb whore who did this, she belongs in jail.

[slamminshaun]

5 different DNA's on her panties, none of which came from ANY of the Duke players OR even her boyfriend for that matter. What a filthy racist slut. The whore should be charged with a hate crime....you know the only reason she tried to pull this shit is because they were white and she figured she could milk the "rich white man" for a settlement. Did you guys see she just gave birth to a baby?????