“No Entry”… nice touch
The Duke lacrosse rape case has been like an ESPN instant classic, going back and forth in shifts in momentum between the two sides. For a week, public sentiment was on the side of the Duke players after DNA tests came up negative and a report that the police officer who found the accuser described her as ‘passed-out drunk’, further giving credence to the lax players’ assertion that the woman was already intoxicated when she arrived at the house. Things were looking good for the lacrosse players until early this morning, when two players, Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty were charged and arrested in connection to the rape. District Attorney Mike Nifong is collecting evidence for a third arrest, which means there’s a player out there who is peeing his pants.
Of course, the lawyer for Finnerty has maintained both players’ innoncence.
The (grand) jury only heard one side of the story. They almost always indict. The next jury will hear the entire story, which will include our evidence. We’re confident that these young men will be found innocent.
If you’re wondering where you’ve heard the name Colin Finnerty before, it’s because he’s already in trouble in D.C. for attacking a man and calling him gay. Oh, and before Duke takes it down, check out Colin’s personal page on the Duke website. Insert your own joke about Duke lacrosse players and cloning.
In a related development, the second dancer gave a silhouetted television interview on MSNBC where she said the alleged victim was coherent and not intoxicated when they first arrived at the house but upon leaving an hour later, “She couldn’t really walk on her own. She really couldn’t get her thoughts together enough to answer any questions. … She was a different person than I met at the beginning.” She also identified herself as the person who called 911 and pretended to be a pass-by who some of the players yelled the N word at.
We’ll keep you updated as this story develops but for now, here’s some of the reaction around the blogosphere:
[Liberally Conservative]: “What these irresponsible media outlets do is create guilt before a regular court trial commences, as they try the cases on national television. The person making allegations, the prosecutors seeking public approval get the benefit while the real victims are the person(s) charged with the alleged crime. They are guilty before having the opportunity to prove their innocence. This is due process, a constitutional right.”
[Plum Crazy]: “(Because Kids Never Lie to Their Parents) Well, I’m convinced the Duke Lacrosse team is innocent of all charges after reading comments from the father of one of the players.”
[The Passion of the Zanfardino]: “The DA in the Duke Lacrosse thing should be ashamed of himself. He granted 70+ interviews when the case first broke, all proclaiming that the complainant had been raped. For him to suddenly, upon hearing that no DNA evidence came back either on the victim, her clothing, or belongings, proclaim that the defense attorneys were talking too much is ludicrous. Ideally, of course, both sides would have stayed quiet.”
[Right in the Lumberyard]: “Jessie Jackson and anyone else stirring up the local populace, have already condemned the whole team, and not necessarily of rape. They’ve condemned them of being priveleged and white and if we can get a real crime in there along with that, all the better, but dammit, they need to be punished. They aren’t interested in justice. They want people sacrificed.”
Links:
[MSNBC]: 2 Duke lacrosse players arrested in rape case
[News & Observer]: Two arrests made in Duke lacrosse case
