Shocking news on the Duke lacrosse team incident

**lawgator1** · 04-05-2006, 03:55 PM

Can't speak for the veracity of this. Guess we'll know sooner than later. But here is a report on an alleged email from one of the players. Some adult language quoted from the email so sensitive eyes hesitate.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/04050...ml?link=rssfeed

**vader** · 04-05-2006, 03:59 PM

Wow. That is some crazy stuff.

**lawgator1** · 04-05-2006, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (vader @ Apr 5, 2006 3:59 PM)

Wow. That is some crazy stuff.

Assuming it is all true. If he did send out such an email, he's got some big problems.

therealUT · 04-05-2006, 04:08 PM

What is the maximum sentencing for rape in NC? Also, is there a death penalty in NC?

NeanderVol · 04-05-2006, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (lawgator1 @ Apr 5, 2006 4:07 PM)

Assuming it is all true. If he did send out such an email, he's got some big problems.

Duke's student newspaper, The Chronicle, is reporting the same story. Link

utvolpj · 04-05-2006, 04:17 PM

OMG... Goes to show it doesn't really matter what school there are deviants everywhere.

It also says they took his laptop. I think that could be even more surprising.

NeanderVol · 04-05-2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (therealUT @ Apr 5, 2006 4:08 PM)

What is the maximum sentencing for rape in NC? Also, is there a death penalty in NC?

This is from an ESPN story from this past Friday:

Quote:

Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong, lead investigator in the alleged rape case involving the Duke men's lacrosse team, said Thursday that he expects to file charges including first-degree forcible rape, first-degree kidnapping, and first-degree sexual offense, if the case can be made based on the gathered evidence.

A conviction on those charges could result in a minimum prison sentence of 16 to 20 years. Nifong's office is investigating allegations made by an exotic dancer who was hired to perform at a private team party on March 13.

"Under North Carolina law, the only felony more serious than that is first-degree murder," Nifong told ESPN's George Smith. "These crimes are actually punishable at a higher level than second-degree murder."

NeanderVol · 04-05-2006, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (NeanderVol @ Apr 5, 2006 4:12 PM)

Duke's student newspaper, The Chronicle, is reporting the same story.

So is ESPN now. Link

**lawgator1** · 04-05-2006, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (NeanderVol @ Apr 5, 2006 4:22 PM)

So is ESPN now. Link

I am an attorney and constantly find myself wincing when other lawyers try to make a rose out of poop. This lawyer's best course of action right now is no comment. Claiming the email shows his client is innocent because it says there would be no nudity for the stripper is pretty weak when the email suggests that the reason there would be no nudity is because he will kill them when they step in the door.

**jakez4ut** · 04-05-2006, 04:40 PM

all in all a pretty sad state of affairs that someone supposedly so close to adulthood could even think about doing something like this....i have no concept of what it must be like to think that way....

LG as for the lawyer, i agree, but at this point, he has to work any angle he can right? even if it is a leap and a prayer.

If it goes to trial, you think they'll move the hearing? don't know if he could a fair trial in Durham county....

tmack50 · 04-06-2006, 01:53 PM

That kid needs to get some serious help. Anyone ever notice that a lot of the so called rich kids seem to have bigger issues than others. I blame this on the parents.

therealUT · 04-06-2006, 01:59 PM

I completely disagree with that statement. When crimes occur involving wealthy families, wealthy areas, etc, they are inherently perceived as more senational. Therefore, they are reported not only locally, but nationally as well. Compare that to a drive by shooting in Detroit, East St. Louis, Compton, where they aren't even reported in the next closest city.

**Lexvol** · 04-06-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by (therealUT @ Apr 6, 2006 1:59 PM)

I completely disagree with that statement. When crimes occur involving wealthy families, wealthy areas, etc, they are inherently perceived as more senational. Therefore, they are reported not only locally, but nationally as well. Compare that to a drive by shooting in Detroit, East St. Louis, Compton, where they aren't even reported in the next closest city.

Good point UT. That is the same sensationalism that would accompany this story if this was an SEC school. This would be the lead story for a year had it occured at UT, Florida, Georgia etc.

**lawgator1** · 04-06-2006, 03:28 PM

I heard an interesting discussion of the situation on the radio this morning driving in to work.

In this case, with three members of the team accused of rape, Duke has cancelled the entire lacrosse season. But what if this were a big time school and the accusations were against three football players? The example was Notre Dame, but let's say it was Florida or UT. Would either of those schools cancel football season over such allegations?

The answer is of course not. And the reason the show host gave was because lacrosse does not generate millions upon millions of $ of revenue. Hate to say it, but I think he's right.

**hatvol96** · 04-06-2006, 03:29 PM

This will fade from the headlines as soon as the next juicy scandal hits. In the winter of '89, Oklahoma had a shooting, a rape, and their QB busted for cocaine distribution, all in the span of a month. It was big headlines initially, but faded out of sight in a couple of months.