Posted on 01/03/2007 10:57:18 AM PST by abb
(01/03/07 -- DURHAM) - Duke lacrosse defendants Colin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann are both expected to be reinstated today as Duke students in good standing, two sources close to the case told ABC News. Also on abc11tv.com: Send us news tips | Desktop Alert | ABC11 AccuWeather | Pinpoint Traffic Defendant David Evans was allowed to graduate last spring, but underclassmen Seligmann and Finnerty were suspended from the University pending a resolution of the assault charges.
December 22, 2006, prosecutors dropped rape charges against the three Duke lacrosse players accused of attacking a stripper at a team party, but the three still face kidnapping and sexual offense charges.
According to court papers filed by District Attorney Mike Nifong, the accuser says she now does not know if she was penetrated during the alleged attack.
The accuser, a 28-year-old student at North Carolina Central University, has said three men raped her in a bathroom at a March 13 Duke lacrosse team party where she was hired to perform as a stripper.
The indicted players - Dave Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann - all say they are innocent, and their attorneys have consistently said no sex occurred at the party.
Evans graduated from Duke in May, the day before he was indicted. Sophomores Finnerty and Seligmann were suspended following their April 2006 indictments.
The Duke lacrosse team was also suspended from play, but was reinstated in June on a provisionary basis.
A press conference from defense attorneys is expected this afternoon.
Stay with abc11tv.com and ABC11 Eyewitness News for the latest on this developing story.
Nifong Wrong bump
Alumni money must have dried up.
I will withold comment until the DA presser.
First reaction: reinstatement does not equal return
The lacrosse coach should now get his job back.
Reinstated so that their transfer request will be accepted.
Just good ole boys never meanin' no harm
This just in...
http://www.newsobserver.com/1185/story/528213.html
Published: Jan 03, 2007 01:37 PM
Modified: Jan 03, 2007 01:37 PM
Two lacrosse players allowed back at Duke
By Jane Stancill
Duke University will allow two former lacrosse players accused of sexual assault to return to campus as students in good standing.
The university informed Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty in letters dated Jan. 2 that they were welcome to come back to Duke for the coming semester. They they had been placed on interim suspension and then administrative leave of absence. The third accused player, David Evans, graduated from Duke last year.
It's unclear whether Seligmann and Finnerty will accept Duke's offer to return this semester. The next court hearing in the case is scheduled for Feb. 5.
The gesture reflects the university's new stance toward the three former players. After rape charges were dropped in December, Duke President Richard Brodhead issued a statement calling into question Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong's handling of the case and the fact that kidnapping and sexual assault charges remain against the three men.
In a letter to Seligmann, Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs, wrote: "As circumstances have evolved in this extraordinary case, we have attempted to balance recognition of the gravity of legal charges with the presumption of your innocence. Now with the approach of a new term, we believe that circumstances warrant that we strike this balance differently."
The letter was released by Seligmann's lawyers.
Duke officials offered the former players academic advising and help with making arrangements for housing, either on or off campus. "Reade, it is my sincere hope that you will choose to return for the spring semester," Moneta wrote. "Please let me know how I may support you during this time."
The Seligmann family issued a statement thanking Brodhead for his recent comments about the case. "We are also glad that Duke University has now made it clear that Reade is welcome to return to the University and look forward to the day that he can return to living a normal life and continuing his education as a full-time student," the statement said.
"By now it should be plain to any person who has any objectivity that the charges against Reade are transparently false," the statement continued. "Reade is absolutely innocent and we will continue to fight this injustice. We are not going to rest until Reade's good name has been cleared and those who have been responsible for this injustice have been held fully accountable."
Staff writer Joseph Neff contributed to this report.
Staff writer Jane Stancill can be reached at 919-956-2464 or janes@newsobserver.com
He did & I say good on him.
As the saying goes, "When you lie down with dogs, you might wake up with fleas."
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Could be. They are probably also trying to do damage control in other areas as well such as the view the public has of the university & that pesky enrollment issue.
Nifong is truly toast.
Until the stipper is in jail and Nifong is disbarred, these boys will NEVER get their lives back. The two steps above will go a very long way.
Good point.
who is lying down with dogs? The guy who was at the ATM machine when this all supposedly happened?
He's white. He's male. nuff said.
Giving a little credit where it is due, it is a good move.
At first I just thought Nifong was a man doing his job. Then I just thought he was a cheesey opportunist maximizing his political opportunities. Then I thought the was a criminal abusing his prosecutorial powers.
Now I think Nifong is actually insane in the Jim Garrison mode...
DukeLax Ping!!
I guess there is going to be news on a daily basis now!
This is so far beyond the pale even liberals aren't defending Nifong anymore. When Jesse Jackson and Sharpton bail on it then you there KNOW isn't single political avoirdupois left in this thing.
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