Nifong and DNA Lab Conspired to Coverup Results Favorable to Duke Students
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, according to stories appearing in the News & Observer and Ace of Spades HQ.
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 team party.
According to borth stories, 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, reported Joe Neff of the News & Observer.
“Did Nifong and his investigators know the results of all the DNA tests?” Attorney 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.â€
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.
Sources: Charlotte News & Observer; Ace of Spades HQ
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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). In addition, he's the former editor for the House Conservatives Fund's weblog. Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty. 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. To subscribe to Kouri's newsletter write to COPmagazine@aol.com and write "Subscription" on the subject line. | More from Jim Kouri, CPP
Stumble It!
December 17th, 2006 at 12:43 am
Thanks for this Jim. You know, there has been not a thing in the newspapers or TV here in Oz about this case. If it were not for people like you and others on MND and SYG, the rest of the world would be languishing under the delusion that DAs in the USA are honourable. This Nifong chap needs to be jailed. He has put these boys under the gun for no reason but to advance his own disgraceful agenda. He has brought the Prosecutorial profession into disrepute. His damage is worse – if I can say that – than the damage caused by the wicked woman who made the false accusations in the first place. A Pox on them both. But kudos to you.
December 17th, 2006 at 10:42 am
We now have a new word to add the dictionary:
“Nifonged”; ‘the willful act of screwing a person for personal gain’. Example: You’ve been Nifonged.
The guy is a scum bag, and he’s gone out on a limb to protect a lying whore so he can be re-elected. I hope he does time for this treachery.
December 17th, 2006 at 1:21 pm
If this is true his conduct is the very epitomy of prosecutorial misconduct and he should spend a long time in jail for ruining the lives of innocent albeit misguided young men for personal gain.
As we often say in law enforcement: Nothing good ever happens after midnight.
Drinking, strippers, and college students are a huge recipe for some kind of trouble.
December 17th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
The Constitution of the United States is not a bad idea.
We ought to try it sometime.
December 17th, 2006 at 10:03 pm
The idea of using scientific DNA evidence was to make absolute identification possible for paternity, rape, murder, and other legal purposes. This ensures justice on all accounts.
Any prosecutor, such as Nifong, who does not serve the cause of justice, but rather thinks he is the high sheriff of Hazard, should be disbarred and sentenced to the equivalent of those who he attempted to screw.
In this case, Nifong is the rapist. He should be tried as such. He deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars, with no possibility of parole.
December 17th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
Nifong is also an accessory-during-the-fact. He had the information to do the right thing and quashed it, knowingly prosecuting innocent men. This, of course, makes what he did probably a criminal offense.
December 17th, 2006 at 10:40 pm
David Usher, I could not agree more: Nifong IS the rapist and an accessory-during-the fact. And he deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars, as you point out.
And Crystal Gail Mangum, the lying stripper deserves to be prosecuted for her false allegations of course.
And on a lighter note, you actually used the word “screw” in your post!
That’s the closest to profanity that I have ever read in your words.
I just hope that you aren’t going over to the “Dark Side”!…………;-)