by Jim Kouri
In another twist in an already questionable criminal case, DNA testing in the infamous Duke lacrosse rape case found no genetic material from any of the accused males in the woman’s body or on her clothing, but analysts found DNA from several unknown male on the accuser’s body.
This finding directly contradicts reports that she did not engage in sex with anyone prior to or following her encounter with the three Duke students.
Prosecutors reportedly ordered the DNA testing after the state crime lab failed to find a conclusive match between the 27-year-old woman and any member of the Duke lacrosse team.
The most recent lab findings contradict earlier reports in which the accuser denied engaging in any sexual activity in the days before the alleged assault. The woman, who was hired as a stripper at a Duke lacrosse party in March, claims she was gang-raped by three team members in a bathroom.
The testing was conducted at a private laboratory for the prosecution.
On Wednesday, the defense attorneys for the three lacrosse players filed court papers charging the District Attorney Mike Nifong. They complained that the information about DNS from other men was not disclosed in a report prosecutors provided earlier this year to the defense.
“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,” the defense lawyers told AP.
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Defense attorney Joseph Cheshire, who represents one of the suspects, tells the AP, “None of (the DNA material) happens to be from lacrosse players who are supposed to have had sex with her, which is pretty significant.”
There have also been calls for the District Attorney Mike Nifong to be investigated since he neglected to inform the defense attorneys about the DNA from several men found on the accuser, none of which came from the suspects.
“In any other situation, the charges would have been dropped by now. This accuser has been caught in deceptions from the start of the case. She said she did not have sex with anyone, yet there’s evidence from the prosecution that she’s slept with several men during the timeline being investigated, ” says a former sex crimes investigator with the New York Police Department.
“This case was a shambles from day one,” he added, “And it doesn’t help that the prosecutor is less than forthright in his handling of the case.”
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he’s a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). He’s former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed “Crack City” by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He’s also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country.  Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He’s a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com and PHXnews.com. He’s also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he’s syndicated by AXcessNews.Com.  He’s appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri’s own website is located at http://jimkouri.us
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