Well would you look at that. The picture in the paper this morning shows two young men being led to police cruisers in handcuffs. As I read further I see that they are Duke Lacrosse players who have been identified by the student/stripper who claims she was sexually assaulted at a party for the Duke Lacrosse team. But, they have no DNA evidence. Why would they even proceed with this? The DA is a politically motivated idiot and should have done exactly what the defense attorneys wanted him to do. Drop the case. They have time sequenced photos that clearly show the stripper had been assaulted before she got to the party and that she was drunk when she got there. But there are 27 minutes missing from this video tape which is when the two girls had to lock themselves in the bathroom and be coaxed out of it to continue dancing. Why did they have to be coaxed out of the bathroom? Because these fine, outstanding young men hurled racial blurbs and sexual comments at them. As a matter of fact, this is the only thing these boys did wrong the entire night, if you are willing to believe the defense attroneys. The television is saying the same thing as the newspapers. There is a security guard and a police officer who both say the alleged victim was passed out drunk. There are people from Durham, N.C. who have posted here that the girl in the police story was NOT the alleged victim (this post wasn't around long but long enough for me to respond and question it). There are reports that the alleged victim couldn't speak at first. There are reports that within one hour of the alleged rape the alleged victim was examined at a local hospital and there was enough physical evidence to support sexual assault claim. The alleged victim has a criminal past. The lacrosse team has a jaded past as well.  An article at MSN today states that the coach was told over a year ago that there were too many improprieties in his program and they were being scrutinized by university officials. When I commented previously that the girl said she could identify at least one of the alleged assailants from photos someone responded to me that she could not. When I mentioned that a prosecutor on CNN said that when the police went to the players dorms to ask questions they were not technically in violation of anything as no one had been charged with anything. I was told that just because a prosecutor  (who is not involved in this case) said that didn't mean the police didn't do anything wrong. I was told that prosecutors will put a spin on stuff like that. I was told that I shouldn't listen to everything I hear on television. That being the case, then why should we listen to the defense attroneys who started spinning their story immediately?

That is what these people do. The defense team comes out with no DNA, time sequenced photos, comments from outstanding parents and students, from the lacrosse team, about what a wonderful bunch of boys these guys are. Drop the charges, there is no DNA evidence. The DA is running for office, this is the only reason he is going to charge anyone. This is a racial case and he wants the black vote (accuser is black). The police crash the players dorms asking questions, outlandish!!!

A prosecutor not related to this case makes one comment and all prosecutors say things like that to get their spin on things. This DA is convinced a rape took place. He says that 75% to 80% of rape cases have no DNA evidence. The findings at the hospital that prove there was a sexual assault are another motive for him to move ahead. The alleged victim has identified two of the three attackers and is 90% positive on the third (even though I don't know how you would determine that).

Here is what it is, like it or not. We are not privy to what is going on in this case unless we hear it from the media. Defense attorneys and prosecuting attorneys will spin their case anyway they can to prove reasonable doubt. Reasonable doubt by the defense team and beyond a reasonable doubt by the prosecution team. It started right away when it appeared that charges would be brought and parents of players started hiring attorneys. Blame is tossed out at anyone and anything that stands in the way of proving the innocence of the accused. Everything that is done is questioned by defense teams and if they can get it out in the media, then all the better. Prosecutors have to deny all of those claims and say enough to convince people that they have a case in the face of defense team allegations or contentions to the contrary. SPIN DOCTORS are not uncommon here or anywhere else.

I don't need other people to give me their spin.  Please don't tell me that I shouldn't listen to what is said on the television by a practicing member of the profession quoted. In this case a prosecutor who is not part of the prosecution team in the sexual assault case. And I won't tell any of you that you shouldn't jump all over the defense teams contentions as fact because it is what we have heard on television or read in the newspaper. I enjoy the back and forth here but, unless you are involved in this on a deeper level than myself, then I am entitled to disagree with you, and you with me, and most likely will until this case reaches its conclusion.

I would, instead, recommend that we attempt to view this case with an open mind. The alleged victim appears to have some issues aside from the assault. The lacrosse team has issues as well, aside from the assault. The defense team and the prosecutors will continue to spin this in any way that they think will help their case and clients. We are left to the media to get this story out to us. While that can be quite disturbing in its own way, it is what we have. Opinions are fine, but I am trying to wait a bit before I can muster one up one way or the other.  The team members who have been charged may wind up being found innocent. The case may not even proceed to open court. Then again, it may and they may not.  Some people have already made up their minds. I just go with what I see, hear, or read. Since I'm not involved on a deeper level, it is all I got.