Updated: 12:55 PM EST


Lawyer Says Rape Charges Dropped in Duke Case
By AARON BEARD, AP

DURHAM, N.C. (Dec. 22) - Prosecutors dropped rape charges Friday against three Duke University lacrosse players accused of attacking a stripper at a team party, but the three still face kidnapping and sexual offense charges, a defense attorney said.



Joseph Cheshire and attorneys for the other players have said for months the woman told several different versions of the alleged assault.

Cheshire said Friday that the accuser now says she does not know if she was penetrated, which he said led District Attorney Mike Nifong to dismiss the rape charges.

Nifong did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

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 team party where she was hired to perform as a stripper.

The players - Dave Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann - all say they are innocent. Their attorneys have consistently said no sex occurred at the party and have cited a lack of DNA evidence in the case as proof of their clients' innocence.

"It's highly coincidental," Cheshire said, that the charges are being dropped a week after the director of a private DNA testing lab acknowledged that he initially, with Nifong's knowledge, withheld from the defense test results showing none of the players' DNA was found on or in the accuser's body.

Testing also showed that genetic material from several males was found in her undergarments and body.


12/22/2006 12:30:28

does rape under US law require anal or vaginal penetration?

here forced oral sex counts as rape too. that's quite new though

under u.s. law, rape varies. in nevada, we define it as any sexual penetration, however slight, including oral. but depending on the state, you just found one of our many loopholes. i'm glad to see the Duke players will have to pay some price, but I'm not surprised to see the way the case is going...

why? The woman lied. They didn't rape her. She's just trying to get money out of these boys.

If she had "lied," trust me, they wouldn't have to do anything. There's proof. Just as there was in so many of the other cases. But when you're a sports figure/celebrity/etc thelaw doesn't stand in your way. I could tell you Kobe stories that would make your head spin. Same with Mike Tyson. It's not a fair world. I'm not saying all rape victims tell the truth, don't get me wrong. But anytime an accused person is asked/forced/highly suggested to make some sort of reparation or make some sort of community service or partiicpate in a sexual harassment training course, take it as a sign of guilt.

If an innocent person, an average person, with no money and no means were accused, would they not fight to clear their name?? The same should be assumed of a celebrity. Now soem argue it's easier to just make it go away, especilly in our litigious society. However, when it comes to rape or murder, sorry folks, these are crimes you don't make go away. You fight them for the sake of your conscience, for your family, your children, for your innocence. or you pay the money and close your eyes and hope the next victim you pick doesn't open their mouth.