Saturday, May 13, 2006
Duke Lax Redux
I'm not sure if the reporting on this is trustworthy. I don't know if a partial match with DNA is the same thing as no match at all. Our Denver DA, Mitch Morrissey, might know. He was prosecuting using DNA evidence when the science was young. But here's the report, it all looks line bad news for the Durham DA. Highlights:
A second round of DNA testing in the Duke University lacrosse rape case came back with the same result as the first - no conclusive match to any member of the team, defense attorneys said Friday.
Attorney Joseph Cheshire, who represents a team captain who has not been charged, said the tests showed genetic material from a "single male source" was found on a vaginal swab taken from the accuser, but that material did not match any of the players.
"In other words, it appears this woman had sex with a male," said Cheshire, who spoke at a news conference with other defense attorneys in the case. "It also appears with certainty it wasn't a Duke lacrosse player."
Cheshire said the testing did find some genetic material from several people on a plastic fingernail found in a bathroom trash can of the house where the team held the March 13 party. He said some of that material had the "same characteristics" - a link short of a conclusive match - to some of the players, but not the two who have charged with rape, kidnapping and sexual assault.
So the damage to the vagina consistent with rape (the best evidence I have heard supporting the charges) could have been caused by the sex thevictim accuser had with someone other than a Duke lacrosse player.
The lack of DNA material of the two accused players on a fake nail found in the house where the rape was alleged to have occurred, when the accuser has said she scratched the guys raping her, is another body blow to DA Nifong's case.
A second round of DNA testing in the Duke University lacrosse rape case came back with the same result as the first - no conclusive match to any member of the team, defense attorneys said Friday.
Attorney Joseph Cheshire, who represents a team captain who has not been charged, said the tests showed genetic material from a "single male source" was found on a vaginal swab taken from the accuser, but that material did not match any of the players.
"In other words, it appears this woman had sex with a male," said Cheshire, who spoke at a news conference with other defense attorneys in the case. "It also appears with certainty it wasn't a Duke lacrosse player."
Cheshire said the testing did find some genetic material from several people on a plastic fingernail found in a bathroom trash can of the house where the team held the March 13 party. He said some of that material had the "same characteristics" - a link short of a conclusive match - to some of the players, but not the two who have charged with rape, kidnapping and sexual assault.
So the damage to the vagina consistent with rape (the best evidence I have heard supporting the charges) could have been caused by the sex the
The lack of DNA material of the two accused players on a fake nail found in the house where the rape was alleged to have occurred, when the accuser has said she scratched the guys raping her, is another body blow to DA Nifong's case.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 7:55 AM 
Comments:
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This gets no press here, and it shouldn't be getting any press there.
You call Plame a "no crime"? Lets call this a waste of prime time.
You call Plame a "no crime"? Lets call this a waste of prime time.
I'm not disagreeing, but true crime stories have a huge following here in the States and their coverage gets the viewers. Also I'm under orders to cover the Duke thing (part of the vast right wing conspiracy no doubt).
Betty
Sounds like a good argument for not having strippers at the Frat house if you ask me.
Innocent of rape: probably (most likely)
Altogether innocent: have you ever been to a frat party?
Roger,
Is it blog sweep week?
I knew you were under orders! Hey, when the Blogfather makes an offer, you are not in a position to refuse. ;-)
Sounds like a good argument for not having strippers at the Frat house if you ask me.
Innocent of rape: probably (most likely)
Altogether innocent: have you ever been to a frat party?
Roger,
Is it blog sweep week?
I knew you were under orders! Hey, when the Blogfather makes an offer, you are not in a position to refuse. ;-)
Mike, that's right--keep that in mind if I ever ask you to cover something.
Betty, good analysis (I'm not sure I'm with you on the pimp thing nor with penetration other than the normal place by her boyfriend) and if I were for the lacross team, I'd argue that anything less than a complete match is worthless as we all share a lot of DNA. Thanks all for the comments.
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Betty, good analysis (I'm not sure I'm with you on the pimp thing nor with penetration other than the normal place by her boyfriend) and if I were for the lacross team, I'd argue that anything less than a complete match is worthless as we all share a lot of DNA. Thanks all for the comments.
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