WRAL Raleigh is reporting that Durham DA Mike Nifong moved Friday to drop the charges in the Duke Lacrosse rape case. More details to come.
I wonder if an appology will be forthcoming from Nifong and Durham? Na, doubt it.
Quick Update: What in the hell is this wonkadoodle doing? (from the Raleigh N&O)
Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong dismissed part of the rape case against three former Duke University lacrosse players today after the accuser told detectives she wasn’t certain about a critical detail of the alleged attack.
Nifong dropped the charge of first-degree forcible rape against David Evans, 23, of Bethesda, Md.; Collin Finnerty, 20, of Garden City, N.Y.; and Reade Seligmann, 20, of Essex Fells, N.J. All maintain their innocence.
The three are still charged with first-degree sexual offense and first-degree kidnapping.
“The victim in this case indicated that, while she initially believed that she had been vaginally penetrated by a male sex organ … she cannot at this time testify with certainty" that it occurred, Nifong wrote. Since such penetration is one of the elements the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt in a prosecution of a charge of first-degree forcible rape, "the State is unable to meet its burden of proof with respect to this offense,” he continued.
So, we have gone from her being undeniably raped, to "she can't remember." Excuse my language, but, all I can possible think to write is that this is just f*cked up beyond all belief.
Stop The ACLU has a roundup.
