Duke DA Suffered From PMS

2007-01-16
By

PMS has another meaning besides Post Menstrual Syndrome. In former Duke District Attorney (DA) Mike Nifong’s case it stood for Prosecutorial Misconduct Syndrome. I see alot of PMS in my caseload as Forensic Trial Consultant in criminal child sex and adult rape cases. In fact, I was interviewed for a story about it a few years ago. Just how overboard did Nifong go in attempting to put away indicted defendants Evans, Finnerty and Seligmann?

If you go back ten months ago to the alleged crime scene, you know, the party at Duke University North Carolina where the three aforementioned lacrosse players hired strippers to dance for them, you wonder how the authorities even established probable cause to effect arrests. The dancer arrived at the party after midnight and the rape of the african american mother took place between 12 midnight and 1:30 a.m. No, wait a minute, change that to I think I was raped between 11:40 p.m. and 12 midnight, although an eyewitness claims to not see her arrive at the scene until at least midnight. First, she was sure David Evans (it sure looked like him in the lineup – which will be ruled on at a hearing on Feb. 5) had a moustache. But, of course, Evans has never had one. Seligmann first participated in her assault and now she claims he stood on the sidelines (eventhough all along he had an airtight alibi via cell phone and ATM records).

Every setback Nifong received, including not one but two separate forensic labs indicating no DNA matches between the complainant and three defendants, made him push forward that much more so. Nifong was a bad rash that could not be cured by benadryl. It didn’t matter that DNA Security, Inc. worked in concert with Nifong to hide exculpatory evidence clearing the three defendants (all who were hit with initial $400K bail bonds) and at the same time matching loci to three other men – the likes of which we still do not know.

  • snootfish

    I like that definition of PMS.

    There has been awareness that police sometimes abuse their authority and lie for many, many years. Unfortunately, it seems many people when they become jurors forget this.

    However, few people have realized that prosecutors sometimes abuse their authority and lie also. This case should help some with this. Although, it will probably be written off as an aberation. Prosecutors are generally politicians and they do what politicians do — seek votes. They will seek votes by wasting public money and they will seek votes by prosecuting innocent men.

    Now, I don’t mean to bad mouth democracy, but it does have its drawbacks. What is the saying? Something like, it sucks, but it sucks less than all the alternatives.

  • snootfish

    I like that definition of PMS.

    There has been awareness that police sometimes abuse their authority and lie for many, many years. Unfortunately, it seems many people when they become jurors forget this.

    However, few people have realized that prosecutors sometimes abuse their authority and lie also. This case should help some with this. Although, it will probably be written off as an aberation. Prosecutors are generally politicians and they do what politicians do — seek votes. They will seek votes by wasting public money and they will seek votes by prosecuting innocent men.

    Now, I don’t mean to bad mouth democracy, but it does have its drawbacks. What is the saying? Something like, it sucks, but it sucks less than all the alternatives.

  • http://lovability.org amfortas

    There are alternatives that work better than the sort of faux-democracy we have today. America had the core of a good one a few centuries ago. When you have missed a turning on a long journey, it is wise to turn around and look for it and get back on track rather than continue and drive into the desert. We may need to run over the Nifongs et al pointing us in the wrong direction. Right now, we are axle deep in sand.

  • http://lovability.org amfortas

    There are alternatives that work better than the sort of faux-democracy we have today. America had the core of a good one a few centuries ago. When you have missed a turning on a long journey, it is wise to turn around and look for it and get back on track rather than continue and drive into the desert. We may need to run over the Nifongs et al pointing us in the wrong direction. Right now, we are axle deep in sand.

  • S Baker

    Prosecutors and judges in blackrobes often abuse their authority. The Duke DA is another liberal shyster attempting to use an attack on rich white boys to feather his political nest.

  • S Baker

    Prosecutors and judges in blackrobes often abuse their authority. The Duke DA is another liberal shyster attempting to use an attack on rich white boys to feather his political nest.

  • http://www.false-accusers.com TheManOnTheStreet

    Typical media…. Take the heat off of Crystal Gail Magnum and put it on the white male.

    Sure, Nodong is an idiot, but lets not forget where the charges came from. The person that folks should be crucifying is Magnum. Her name and face should be plastered all over the media, if not alongside nodong’s.

    And to bring this full circle, lets not ignore the G88, the school, the “vigilettes”, the femikook bloggers and writers, the MSM and all of the rest of the bigotted and sexist doo-gooders that condemned these young men even before charges were brought. This country is SUPPOSED to be based upon INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. Too bad the liberal doo-gooders and hate-mongers under the guise of political correctless and equaleteeee never got the memo.

    TMOTS

  • http://www.false-accusers.com TheManOnTheStreet

    Typical media…. Take the heat off of Crystal Gail Magnum and put it on the white male.

    Sure, Nodong is an idiot, but lets not forget where the charges came from. The person that folks should be crucifying is Magnum. Her name and face should be plastered all over the media, if not alongside nodong’s.

    And to bring this full circle, lets not ignore the G88, the school, the “vigilettes”, the femikook bloggers and writers, the MSM and all of the rest of the bigotted and sexist doo-gooders that condemned these young men even before charges were brought. This country is SUPPOSED to be based upon INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. Too bad the liberal doo-gooders and hate-mongers under the guise of political correctless and equaleteeee never got the memo.

    TMOTS






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