Friday, August 31, 2007

Morning in Wonderland

Even in the Wonderland that is Durham, this morning’s session was surreal.

A sitting judge served as a de facto character witness for a district attorney who was forced to resign his office after being disbarred.

A sitting ADA testified as the Durham equivalent of Sgt. Schultz, suggesting that he “knew nothing”—or at least as close to nothing as absolutely possible—about how the case was prosecuted.

Mr. Obfuscation was in rare form—with Dr. Brian Meehan suggesting at one point that he’d speak “two ways” about his own company’s protocols(!)—but finally admitted that Mike Nifong’s Sept. 22 statement to the court was “false,” and that, in fact, that none of the conversations between Nifong and him were memorialized in the report.

And then there was the ex-DA himself. Nifong acted as if he were addressing a seminar of young prosecutors, giving his recommendations on how to prosecute a case.

He evidenced no awareness of the fact that no crime occurred in this case.

He reminisced that when he took over the case on March 24, “no one had been identified as a suspect at that time” [except, of course, for the 46 lacrosse players listed in the non-testimonial order as suspects].

Nifong thrice referred to Mangum as “the victim.” (His attorney did so another two times.)

He twice stated that a mixture from which Dave Evans’ DNA (and that of two percent of the males in the United States) could not be excluded constituted a DNA “match” that was consistent with Mangum’s myriad stories.

When the negative results came from SBI, he simply changed his theory of the crime: “It was evident to me,” Nifong told the court, “that this had been a non-ejaculatory event.” Therefore, it became an eyewitness ID case (in which he would order the DPD, the very next day, to violate their own procedures and run a suspects-only lineup).

One problem: his own “victim” had explicitly said that it was an “ejaculatory event.”

His “primary interest” in going to DSI was “ferreting out” fingernail mixture—suggesting that this evidence was the key to the case. (He went out of his way to name Dave Evans in his testimony.)

On April 21, maybe Ben Himan did hear Meehan say that the DNA from at least four unidentified males had been found in the rape kit, but the remark passed over Nifong’s head: “At that meeting, the focus was almost exclusively on the findings on that particular sample.”

Anyhow, these males could have been anyone, likely someone unconnected with the case. Nifong had previously suggested that the unidentified male DNA might have come from the police car(!). Today, in a perfectly rational tone, the former “minister of justice” of Durham County stated that it was possible that one of the unidentified males whose DNA was found on Mangum’s rectal, vaginal, oral swabs, and panties could have been her 6 or 7 year old son.

Only in Wonderland.

211 comments:

1 – 200 of 211   Newer›   Newest»
Anonymous said...

From a purely legal standpoint it seesm odd that he's arguing the exact same line of reasoning that failed so miserably in the bar hearing.

However, I don't think its out of the realm of possibility given Steven's poor performance as acting judge on the case that he will conclude Nifong's statement was false, but not willfully so and not find him in contempt.

Though, I find floating the idea of her son's DNA being found on her vagina, panties and anus to be pretty insulting, if I was the judge.

Anonymous said...

If Nifong didn't think the UNIDENTIFIED male DNA was important, if he didn't pay attention to it and didn't care about it, THEN WHY DID HE GET THE DNA SAMPLES FROM CGM'S BOYFRIEND, DRIVERS AND THE TWO NON-LAX PLAYERS THAT ATTENDED THE 3/13-14/06 PARTY? Why did he included the fact that there was a match to CGM's boyfriend on the 5/12 report. That DNA was unidentified on 4/21 too, but was later matched in early May. Nifong was trying to identify who that DNA was from in spring and summer of '06.

Anonymous said...

1:46

Insulting to the judge or to Mangum? From what we know about her now, is it entirely out of the question?

Anonymous said...

Does he make all this stuff up as he goes along or is this the sort of conversation that he has with his spouse Cy(Fong)? Is this the world she resides in ?

Anonymous said...

KC

You are not being totally fair to the woman judge. She asked that the record reflect that she was order to appear and that she is not a character witness.

She actually hurt Nifong at the end of her cross. She was just giving a account of how Nifong was in the past before his job, career and future pension gain were on the line.

Anonymous said...

Insulting to the judge. Don't you think the judge is sitting there thinking 'jesus christ man, why are you talking about this hooker's kids' DNA being in her anus and on her panties, just stick with presenting yourself as a bumbling fool"

I've never understood why she still has her kids. Documented delusions, mental illness, drug abuse, accused of being a hooker by her own stripper coworkers. What else do you need to get your kids taken away?

Anonymous said...

What else do you need to get your kids taken away?

Evidence that her son's DNA was found in her hoo-ha would probably do the trick.

- Jim Curry

Anonymous said...

Insulting to the judge. Don't you think the judge is sitting there thinking 'jesus christ man, why are you talking about this hooker's kids' DNA being in her anus and on her panties, just stick with presenting yourself as a bumbling fool"

I've never understood why she still has her kids. Documented delusions, mental illness, drug abuse, accused of being a hooker by her own stripper coworkers. What else do you need to get your kids taken away?

8/31/07 2:00 PM

A DIVORCE!

Anonymous said...

The Fong has to be put behind bars!

Maybe he will then begin referring to himself as the "victim", and will stop referring to CGM with that term.

Anonymous said...

Too bad CGM doesn't have at least four sons -- that could explain all of that pesky DNA!


If Nofing is allowed to bring all of this in as an attempt to muddy the waters and smear everyone else, let's hope that somewhere along the line all of the available evidence is aired in open court. Let it be plainly shown to all that CGM is a cheap, lying whore, not any sort of "victim".

This is hard to take -- a bit easier if you look at it as free discovery for the future civil suits.

Anonymous said...

Pretty sure everyone already knows she's a cheap, lying sex worker, whore.

He just calls her the victim and keeps mentioning the boys names over and over and pretends a 'not excluded' is the same as a 'match to Evan's DNA because its the only petty revenge he's got left.

Hopefully, Stevens will find him in contempt and at least restore a bit of his own credibility.

Debrah said...

DNA found in the cavities of Mangum's body might have come from her children?

This is mad.

Someone needs to slap Nifong for resorting to old language when referring to the innocent lacrosse players....and calling Mangum the victim.

I hope the judge decides that Mikey would benefit from some time in a psychiatric ward.

Anonymous said...

JLS says....,

re: anon 2:12

This is Judge Smith's court, not Stevens. Nifong would walk if it were the worthless Stevens.

Debrah said...

...a non-ejaculatory event?

Say what?

Anonymous said...

Debrah said...
"DNA found in the cavities of Mangum's body might have come from her children?

This is mad."
This is Crystal Gail Mangum, so I wouldn't completely rule it out.

Debrah said...

This in the H-S today:

....Meehan, after testifying Thursday, told reporters, "There was no exculpatory information held."

"I just spent all day sitting in there and just got off the witness stand," Meehan said. "I would be glad, through the proper channels with my company, to set up something with the media to discuss these matters at the right time. OK?"

As reporters continued asking for information, Meehan remarked, "You guys are going to get me fired."



ROTFLM-T's-O !!!

Debrah said...

To 2:37PM--

A very sad truth.

Debrah said...

In the N&O today:

Mikey done signed his name.

(With all due given to Timothy Tyson)

Shades of idiots conquering

Anonymous said...

Hoo-boy.

I am especially dismayed, although not nearly as much as those forced to sit through this farce (like KC Johnson, or Judge Smith), by Nifong's unconscionable dragging-out of "Mr Obfuscation", who clearly has no evidence to offer, except ongoing, steaming piles of pro-Nifong lies and, yes, obfuscation.

What's already grossly obvious and conceded (by Himan and even by Meehan and even, at a press conference, by Nifong himself), is that

1) Meehan told Nifong, on April 10 and on 2 other occasions soon thereafter, that Crystal's anus, mouth and vagina were cesspools of DNA from males NOT on the lacrosse team,

2) None of that was stated in Meehan's typed report, and

3) Nifong lied to the judge, and to counsel for innocent defendants, when he denied knowing any of the above.

All the rest is bullshit. Nifong is guilty.

Anonymous said...

This is getting ridiculous, bring on the X-exam, it could be good !!

What a pathologic LIAR...

BDay

Anonymous said...

Would someone who is watching live kindly post when the defense rests? I am stuck at the salt mines, and cannot get (away with) a feed over the internet, and would love to know when to take my afternoon coffee break.

I figure Fong wants to postpone the chance of jail time until after the Labor Day drunks get out, so his mouth piece will blabber through close of business tonight.

Anonymous said...

Any chance that if Nifong tells identifiable lies on the stand (i.e. contradicts his testimony from the bar hearing) that he might get slapped with extra contempt charges on the spot?

Anonymous said...


Ralph Phelan said...
Any chance that if Nifong tells identifiable lies on the stand (i.e. contradicts his testimony from the bar hearing) that he might get slapped with extra contempt charges on the spot?

8/31/07 3:20 PM


That would be perjury, not contempt. Perjury is much more serious. RRH

Anonymous said...

While I agree with most of what you post KC, I have to say that Judge Morey was there under subpoena and if I heard correctly, wanted it on the record as sucn and NOT as a charactr witness. She is actually a very good judge who has been passionately involved in trying to bring about change for juvenile court. I stood in the rain for hours on election day, campaigning aginst Nifong, but the fact that someone speaks about their opinion supporting his previous discovery behavior, does not make her somehow the "enemy" or one of the good ole boys.

Anonymous said...

Don't be fooled by the subponena arguement like she was there by force, they subpoena almost all witnesses friendly and hostile, the judge already knows this so her saying she was subpoena'd isnt' going to fool Smith.

Anonymous said...

Incredible, he KNEW there was DNA from unidentified males (even a lay person knows that to be exculpatory), then he pretends to be surprised on Dec. 13th motion by saying "Oh S**" I forgot.

It is truly absurd....

Debrah said...

I need my KC fix!

Anonymous said...

It starts again at 3.40

Anonymous said...

JLS says....,

1. Recess before cross for 10 min.

2. Each side finds out what a witness will say. Nifong's side wouldnot have subpeonaed the Judge had they not known she was friendly. You only call an unfriendly witness IF not one else can testify to certain things. Any number of Durham or NC judges could have testified to what she did. And Saaks testified about the vaunted open discovery policy Nifong had in non-election years.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Incredible, he KNEW there was DNA from unidentified males (even a lay person knows that to be exculpatory), then he pretends to be surprised on Dec. 13th motion by saying "Oh S**" I forgot.

It is truly absurd....

8/31/07 3:32 PM


Well, it's not really "exculpatory". Imagine that someone is charged with robbing a bank, but when the film from the bank security camera is reviewed, the defendant isn't on it. Does that prove the defendant didn't rob the bank? Not exactly, because there are other possible explanations for why the defendant's image is not on the security camera film.

Truly "exculpatory" evidence is like the ATM camera picture that showed Seligmann to be far away from the scene of the "crime" at the time the crime allegedly occured. This is exculpatory because both things can't be true: It cannot both be true that Seligmann was at the scene of the crime at the same time that he was at an ATM.

I hope that makes sense.

RRH

Anonymous said...

Let's see

1. I know there is DNA from other males, but Mr. Meehan is reluctant to tell me about them becasue of privacy concerns.

2. So, I decide to ignore that evidence becasue I don't want to violate anyone's privacy.

3. However, as far as I am concerned, the May 12 report had everything in it, I only relaized it did not on December 13.

4. I simply forgot about the other DNA, since it was private, I really didn;t think it was important (of course, I am a DA, who should know better, but just a rare mistake on my part)

5. I am simply appalled I could have forgotten such an important piece of information, please forgive me, I did not mean to lie, it was just a mistake on my part.

My take, he was hoping no one would be able to dig the information out of the unintelligible report, and was in shock someone did, then had to run for cover...

BDay

Anonymous said...

I am not fooled by the subpoena, just saying that just b/c someone testifies that he had an open discovery in the past does NOT make them a bad person. If you have not seen anything other than open discovery, when you worked as a DA with Nifong, are you supposed to lie and say you did or be slimed for saying he had open discovery, years ago.

Anonymous said...

I just got a call that my 10 copies of Until Proven Innocent are at the Barnes and Noble waiting for me to pick them up

WHAAAHOOOOOOOOOOO, weekend reading!

Gary Packwood said...

Announcements and a Follow Up - August 30, by Jason Trumpbour

http://friendsofdukeuniversity.blogspot.com/2007/08/announcements-and-follow-up.html

Anonymous said...

I think the legal definition of exculpatory is anything that tends to support the innocence of the defendant.

So, male DNA on a woman who said she had sex w/one guy in 3 days tends to show she was lying, which supports the idea she is not credible, which tends to support the defendant's claim she is lying about her rape.

Additionally, since the woman claimed the rapists ejaculated finding DNA where she said they did ejaculate but it being someone else's DNA would tend to show that either someone other than the defendant had sex w/her and/or that her story of rape with ejaculation is a lie.

Given her statement there is no other way to read the male DNA except as exculpatory.


This wasn't her boyfriend or husbands DNA that was found on her which was consisent with her statement.

This was DNA that proved she was totally lying about her sexual activiteis and called into serious question the physical possibilty of DNA from prior encounters being found but the DNA from the rapist ejaculators being absent.

Debrah said...

Good GP--

Thursday, August 30, 2007
Announcements and a Follow Up

KC Johnson to Speak at Duke University

Professor KC Johnson, Durham in Wonderland blogger and
coauthor of Until Proven Innocent, will speak in
Duke’s Page Auditorium on September 11, 2007 at 7:00.

This event is cosponsored by Duke Students for an Ethical Duke and
the Program for Values an Ethics in the Marketplace.

by Jason Trumpbour, FODU spokesperson

Anonymous said...

He is going to get off. He is saying over and over again that he did not intentionally lie to the court.
They are building a time line of when he knew what. I think he will get off.
This is hard to watch, I hope the guys are busy living their lives and not watching this. It really burns me that he is still calling her a victim and referring to them as defendants.
He is awful.

Anonymous said...

oh my god !! Did you see his hesitation when asked if he thought Crystal Magnum was a victim, he wanted to take the something happened path.... sue the living daylights out of him !!!

BDay

Debrah said...

To quote the great Al Pacino in Heat.....

..."You are going down!"

Mikey will be found guilty.

Diva clairvoyance is working overtime today.

Anonymous said...

"it was possible that one of the unidentified males whose DNA was found on Mangum’s rectal, vaginal, oral swabs, and panties could have been her 6 or 7 year old son."

Actually, given CGM's history, this sadly seems entirely plausible.

Anonymous said...

This about it simply....Meehan had NEVER before in over 100 reports prepared a report like this one that did not have all results.

Did he just come up with that idea himself? NO. He and Nifong agreed to keep that info out. They can give privacy or whatever other BS excuse they want, but Meehan did this because Nifong told him to.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 8/31/07 3:24 PM:
"While I agree with most of what you post KC, I have to say that Judge Morey was there under subpoena and if I heard correctly, wanted it on the record as sucn and NOT as a charactr witness."

So why'd she hug the bastard?

Anonymous said...

So is anyone making a pool to bet on how many of the gang of 88 protest KC when he speaks at Duke? If the number 65 is available, I'll take that number, not that I think the other 23 wouldn't want to be there, but they just can't stand to be in the same room as KC.

Debrah said...

If both Mikey and Meehan could just shut up instead of continually showing everyone what dumbazzes they are.....

......Mikey might have gotten by with his criminal behavior.

Both of these mental cases just ramble on and show the world they have absolutely no redeeming qualities.

Anonymous said...

It's too hard to watch, his mind is dangerous. Meehan had a chance to say he did what he was told. He did not say that.
He sounds like he can follow the questions and answer them, he is not mentally ill. He is evil and void of any remorse for the harm he allowed to happen.
No amount of jail time will be enough. I hope a civil suit follows just in case he has a book in mind.

Anonymous said...

I feel like the prosecutor is not so bright, I am hoping he surprises me....

BDay

Anonymous said...

What's Mikey going to say to the news cameras whenthey haul him away in handcuffs?

Maybe "Time for my closeup, Mr. De Mille."

Debrah said...

To 4:12PM--

If this were open to the public, some of us should show up to balance out any potential protests.

But no doubt there will be quite enough Duke students fully behind KC.

Anonymous said...

That DNA evidence was "not on his radar," said Mike Nifong. Yet, the evidence was so unimportant to him, he made a specific agreement with Brian Meehan to EXCLUDE it from the report.
________________

I've been busy with other things, so please help me out here: Has the prosecutor asked Nifong why he didn't know about the absence of the missing evidence from the report when the Defense attorneys failed to mention it at press conferences, in legal pleadings or in court hearings? This would go to Nifong's defense (#4):

1. I didn't think those DNA findings were important.

2. I didn't notice that the evidence was missing.
_________________

"At 'Johnsonland' a customer can obtain a 'Fast Pass,' which allows the customer to circumvent long lines and stand in somewhat shorter, long lines, based upon a version of meritocracy, and not based upon the customer's skin color or what he or she does with his or her genitals." JOHNSONLAND PRESS RELEASE, July 2007. MOO! Gregory

Anonymous said...

Are Ms. Mangum's children communists?

Anonymous said...

4:24 PM

With the entitlement mentality they're growing up with, I'm sure they will be.

Gary Packwood said...

Debrah 4:16 said...
...To 4:12PM--
...If this were open to the public, some of us should show up to balance out any potential protests.
...But no doubt there will be quite enough Duke students fully behind KC.
::
Everyone notice that this is a new organization?

Duke Students for an Ethical Duke!

Concerning members of the G88 attending KC event at Duke, their words and actions at the meeting will not protected by the settlement!!!

That should slow 'em down.
::
GP

Anonymous said...

If KC does give a talk at Duke’s Page Auditorium on September 11, 2007 at 7:00, I hope he has good security and maybe even body armor.

He is the individual most dangerous to the whole religion of Political Correctness, and the 'group' of 88 and their toadies must be very well aware of this.

Hope the whole occasion is videotaped.

Anonymous said...

WOW! I'd say the old buzzard is showing his temper! He just can't keep his cool....

Anonymous said...

Nifong's problem is that all lawyers, DAs and Judges know what the other DNA meant. They know no DA could not realize what the value was to the defendants.

Anonymous said...

I for one am disappointed by the attorneys on both sides.

Nifong's looks like he's slept in his suit under a bridge for the last week. Is he aware that a cleaners could press his suit?

As for coherence, Wade Smith's partner wasnt much better than Glover. This guy is a "high powered" attorney? I'd ask for my money back if I was his client.

Anonymous said...

Exactly, which is why his defense doesn't make too much sense since this is a hearing before a judge not a bunch of crazy Durham activists.

The judge knows everything he is saying is a lie.

Debrah said...

TO GP @ (4:30PM)--

Indeed, that will slow them down.

Anything they do now, they will be personally responsible for.

LOL!

Anonymous said...

I think he will get off. His peers are sympathetic and he's lost alot already. I really hope he is sued civilly and is ruined.

Anonymous said...

when does it start again? Is it over for the day?

Anonymous said...

4:40 it resumes

Anonymous said...

Nifong's looks like he's slept in his suit under a bridge for the last week. Is he aware that a cleaners could press his suit?
----------------------------

Yup , preferably with the fool still in it!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Nifong's looks like he's slept in his suit under a bridge for the last week. Is he aware that a cleaners could press his suit?
----------------------------

Yup , preferably with the fool still in it!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Check out the trailer, if you've not already...

Indoctrinate U. World Premier

9-28-07

Washington, DC

7:30 p.m.

Mark your calendars for the evening of Friday, September 28th, when Indoctrinate U will make its public debut at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Tickets are now on sale for the event. Tickets are also available for the after-party to take place across the street at 600 Restaurant in the infamous Watergate Hotel.

Dates for screenings in other cities will be announced once the details have been set.

Anonymous said...

are we done yet!?! can i make the decision to either a.) sleep or b.) hang myself, yet??

Anonymous said...

PLEASE tell me there will be a webcast of KC's Duke appearance!

Debrah said...

To 4:45PM--

That's such a neat area now around the Watergate.

Great restaurants.

Anonymous said...

Drum roll, please ....
RRH

Anonymous said...

This is truly high drama.

Ending with the "what if's" of the case was certainly a good exclamation point on how egregious Nifong's behavior was.

Anonymous said...

My prediction: guilty of contempt, but no jail time

Anonymous said...

My wager --- The judge is writing his "Go to Jail" decision. I bet he's really angry and now will vent.

Anonymous said...

JLS says....,

Inman, I had to run for a bit and am just back. The webcast is just the courtroom. Are we awaiting the Judge's decision?

Anonymous said...

Make him sit there and sweat.

Anonymous said...

I agree, guilty but no jail time, HOPEFULLY a serious lecture from the judge.

Anonymous said...

BOHICA!

Anonymous said...

YES

Anonymous said...

Judge is really pissed! Nifong is going to jail!!!

Anonymous said...

Son of Bitch is going to jail!!!

Anonymous said...

What what's happening??

Anonymous said...

He is going to jail-----judge is throwing the book....willful violation, direct intent to impair, criminally contempt!Guilty!!! Criminal contempt!!!!!

Anonymous said...

"Nifong failed to disclose...material, exculpatory and impeachment evidence....


...willfully contempuous...

...proceed to judgment...."

Anonymous said...

Dont know about the jail part, but....Guilty!, Guilty!, Guilty!

Anonymous said...

Is that gleeful dancing I hear in the background KC?

Anonymous said...

Finnertys are crying!! Families are overwhelmed with gratitude and relief,.....again. Just waiting for jail time....

Anonymous said...

I bet the judge is really pissed because Nifong continues to believe he was in the right!

Notice the Judge's choice of words re: "...the then defendants..."

He's making up for Nifong's refusal to use the phrase "alleged victim" rather than victim....

Anonymous said...

a witness?????????
who his son, or wife?????????

Anonymous said...

OK - now what... more witnesses & more Nifong? I guess this is to cover what the sentence should be?

Anonymous said...

That snake Stevens is comuing up. Another slimebag makes his appearance

Debrah said...

This is quite dramatic.

Anonymous said...

JLS says....,

During the boring parts this afternoon I looked up the book assignments for the classes for the NCCU college of law and Nifong does not appear to be teaching a class for them YET. That is my guess for his ultimate landing spot.

Debrah said...

Who gives a darn what Stephens has to say about anything?

Anonymous said...

JLS says....,

If anyone other than Mangum was as bad as Nifong in this it was Stevens.

Anonymous said...

pure scum

Anonymous said...

Who CARES what this freaking judge thought about Mike Nifong!

Looks like this judge didn't think he was going to get convicted.

Gary Packwood said...

Just in time for the 6 PM news across the country.

Debrah said...

Diva clairvoyance conquering!

Anonymous said...

Stevens is testifying Nifong is a great prosecutor, wonderful man, victim-friendly, middle of the road guy, never wonrried about Nifong being underhanded, man of his word, no question. Two pieces of garbage.

Anonymous said...

All this for a max of 30 days. stupid

Anonymous said...

Sounds like somebody needs to investigate the good judge Stephens as well.

Debrah said...

This is a monumental waste of time.

Anonymous said...

5:26 PM

IMAN

"I bet he's really angry . . . and now will vent."

No, he will act in a more mature manner . . . he will act like a judge. He will have what you do not . . . gravitas. You know . . . not like an idiot.

Debrah said...

IMO, Stephens is getting off just being in front of a camera.

Enough!

Get on with it.

Anonymous said...

Stephens admitting how we use to screw innocent people.

Anonymous said...

JLS said ...,

If this moron could have run his courtroom like an actual judge, Nifong might not have been emboldened to lie again in a way he could be caught at a future hearing. If this moron had taken Nifong to task for his smirking and acting out while the defense attorneys where speaking, Nifong might have understood being the DA is not the same thing as being a dictator.

Anonymous said...

This kind of defense is akin to "He never killed anybody before"

Who cares what he did before he was DA and before he got a liking for the camera and before Freda Black was about to beat his a** in the election.

Anonymous said...

Why was Stevens called? Why is he singing Nifon's praises?
WHY?

Anonymous said...

JLS says...,

Stephens you moron we don't want prosecutors who win close cases. We want them to win cases against those who are guilty.

Anonymous said...

Does ex-DA MN appreciate the likely effect on the resolve of the Evans' family to remedy the injustice when he repeatedly claims that there was evidence linking Dave Evans to some unspecified crime?
gk

Debrah said...

I think I'm going to have to bring out the violins.

Anonymous said...

Nifong would have gotten more sympathy if he had plead.

This is annoying!!

He's just rambling

Anonymous said...

JLS says....,

The Nifong discovery standard, open discovery except when he is running in a primary.

Anonymous said...

Too bad this has nothing to do with what Nifong has done in connection with the lax case.

Yawn.

Anonymous said...

Gee, this is a big CONTRADICTION to the Mike Nifong who doesn't read his own evidence, his own reports or know anything about his own case or understand what his own experts are telling him!!!!!!!!!!!

How pathetic this judge is.

Anonymous said...

At times like this, when one is giddy, it pays to check one's self and maintain humility.

So beyond Duke and beyond the lacrosse team and beyond the victims and their families,...this is both a sad day and a great day ... it is a sad day, for it memorializes just how painful the judicial pricess can be and just how wrong the errors of that process are -- thank God for the Innocence Project. Perhaps in the future, the Innocence Project or a like initiative can focus on preventing injustice rather than correcting injustice.

...It is a great day for it shows that we can indeed rely on a system designed to find justice, however hidden that justice is. It is also a great day for its puts aggressive and self-serving prosuction on notice. That is a blessing.

___________________________________

And to the families of the true victims and the true victims themselves:

Please forgive my presumption of knowing how and what to say -- in past days and on this day and time. My empathetic ability and my heart strains to understand the trauma that you have been through. Your anguish is surely almost unknowable. So again, please forgive my presumption.

And best wishes for a wonderful future.

Tom Inman
Trinity '74

PS...and Go Duke lacrosse!

Anonymous said...

Can anyone explain what Stevens is supposed to do?Reverse the sentence?
I hope Nifong WILL GO TO JAIL, and for more than 30 days, namely the 18 months - the same amount of time those young were robbed of.

Anonymous said...

JLS says....,

re: gk

I agree, I would bet the Evans family might sue him for sport even if he has no assets left after dragging their name in the mud unnecessarily all afternoon.

Anonymous said...

Notice Stephens stated Nifong was
"victim friendly"

So???? Please why are you including Coach K's name???

Anonymous said...

5:47

Thank you for your kind reply!

Anonymous said...

Any minute he's going to do like Vick and say he's gotten religion.

Anonymous said...

I understand friends wanting to help, but trying to put 3 innocent guys in jail for 30 yrs. These judges should walk away.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like Mike Nifong will be a real asset to the other inmates with legal advice.

Anonymous said...

Are Stephens and Nifong lovers or something? This is a freaking love-fest. This can't be making the judge happy. But I guess Stephens only legacy out of this is to pretend that Nifong is a stinking hero worth his total support. Otherwise, Stephens looks like a bigger fool for letting Mikey get away with everything that led to this.

Debrah said...

"It has always been a thumbs up for Mike Nifong, as far as I'm concerned."


Come on. Get this guy out of the room.

Anonymous said...

The closing arguements were only 15-20 min. How long is this MORON going to talk.

He had to be encouraged to run for DA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

What's going on?

Nifong will do time, or not?

Anonymous said...

Good no questions,

Anonymous said...

Did anyone hear what he said???

Debrah said...

Mikey took off his glasses and wiped his eyes after Stephens' long and winding tear-jerker.

LIS!

Debrah said...

Again, to quote the great Al Pacino from Heat.....

"Man, you are going down!"

Jail.

Anonymous said...

YES.

DETERRENT!

Anonymous said...

Interesting to hear about Coach K and his family and how involved they were with Nifong. Wonder if that's why Coach K failed to speak out - he was supporting Nifong, not Duke?

Anonymous said...

"I think he needs to be punished." Quoted from Prosecutor Duh.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure the jusdge already had his mind made up when these hearings started. Look how quick he delivered the verdict.

And he already knows how much of a fine/jailtime the joker is getting. Let's get this over.

Gary Packwood said...

Suppose Broadhead is sitting at home scribbling out his 3000 word ...I knew it all along...speech?
::
GP

Anonymous said...

Jackhammer to the system, nice turn of phrase.

Stephens made a fool of himself, he is even a worse judge than I thought!

Anonymous said...

The ball is in the judges side of the court. One can only hope.
JAIL!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

This is better than sex. Almost.

Anonymous said...

Better than sex with you -- lol

Anonymous said...

6:05...

You must know my lacrosse-like "sexual prowess"...(thank you Houston Baker for that phrase)

Anonymous said...

I feel bad for this judge, but I feel he's not going to give him jail. He's leading up to saying that all the sanctions he would have imposed are already in place.

Debrah said...

OMG.

I can't atand anything that moves this slowly.

Can't these people talk faster?

Long pauses do not always produce anything more dramatic.

Anonymous said...

Ummm, apparently the Chapel Hill Law School suddenly developed a crack today and started to fall down. Coincidence?
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=triangle&id=5623584

-E

Debrah said...

stand

Anonymous said...

Is it humanly possible for him to speak any slower?

Anonymous said...

I still say no jail, but he might give him a few days....

RRH

Debrah said...

One day.

Anonymous said...

YES. Jail!

"...integrity of the court and its processes. ... liberties and rights ... compliance with discovery obligations ... punishment and deterence ...
STRONG SENSE OF SETTING A DETERRENT (emphasis added) ... Judge Stevens ... strong mitigation ... stand up Mr. Nifong ... 1 day in jail.

Anonymous said...

Orange Jumpsuit Time

Anonymous said...

1 Day, sounds right ...I thought he might get a day or two ... plus the full $500 fine. RRH

Anonymous said...

oh, so no fine, just the 1 day in jail. OK ...

Anonymous said...

1 day for 3 possible 30 yr frames.

Fairness, Durham style.

Anonymous said...

I was hoping for 5 days, but 1 day symbolically is good enough for me.

Anonymous said...

the symbol of even one day is good

Jungle Jim said...

What a load of crap!

One day!

Smith, you are a joke of a judge.

Anonymous said...

Descriptors for Nifong:

1. Ex-Prosecutor;

2. Ex-Attorney;

3. Convicted Criminal;

4. Contemnor;

5. Model for the verb "Nifonged";

6. Liar;

7. Jailbird.

Anonymous said...

One day! It is symbolic and now he has a criminal record. I had expected at least 30 days..
I hope he feels humiliated enough for the rest of his wretched life.
Thank you KC!

Anonymous said...

Against my better judgment,

I'll say this -- does anyone know the notion of "blue balls"....well this is it ....

Anonymous said...

This will leave a mark, he seemed to all but retract his apology from previously, and I think (hope) that will bring on the fury of the families. So bring on the civil suits and criminal prosecution.

BDay

Michael said...

He's had more punishment in court than one day in jail. I wonder what the typical Criminal Contempt sentence is in Durham.

Anonymous said...

dut dut dah dah daaaaaaaahhhhhh

(theme from Law and Order)

How's that hoax working for you, Mike?

Nothing left but garbage detail on the durham freeway, and me find something else to do with my 12:01 am's...

Anonymous said...

the good ol boys club

Debrah said...

This is ridiculous......but at least he got jail time.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if the good judge had him go on FRI-SAY so he wouldn't have any trash-picking up detail?

Anonymous said...

JLS says....,

The odds were that any DA would skate on this. So one day although somewhat symbolic is still jail time. So I am happy about that.

And one of Finnerty's lawyers said on a courttv break federal monitors have been watching this situation. So there are several more shoes that could drop.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Mr. Johnson. I hope to attend the Duke panel event. Placed my order for your book this afternoon. I know it is not about the money. It is a vote for decency and fairness. JLJr.

Anonymous said...

one more line for Nifong to write on his cv

Anonymous said...

This will leave a mark, he seemed to all but retract his apology from previously, and I think (hope) that will bring on the fury of the families. So bring on the civil suits and criminal prosecution.
-------------------------------

I agree, he went back to trying to basically make the case that he had a CASE. I knew the DNA shenanigans was going to piss off this judge.

I may be wrong but I think criminnnal contempt of court convictions are about as frequent as violent 3 man beat down ejaculation filled gang rapes that don't leave any injuries or DNA.

Prosecutors don't get put in jail, they don't get disbarred, they don't get convicted for criminal contempt of court they don't even get sanctioned.

This is historic.

Anonymous said...

Now start the lawsuits.

Bring in the state and Feds.

Movie Late 2008

Anonymous said...

Good symbolism for Nifong to go away for a day, but the lawsuits next month will be the REAL just punishment for those who elected him.

Anonymous said...

What a joke this makes of our justice system. A DA can withhold evidence, lie about it in open court and get ONE DAY in jail?!?!? This is no deterent! I am afraid for all of us.

Janet

Anonymous said...

JLS....whats that about Federal monitors?

Anonymous said...

The fix was in.

Anonymous said...

Oh, yes.

The symbolism is so strong.

!@#$%^&*()_+

What would one have to do to get thirty days?

Not be an (ex)member of Law Enforcement?

Anonymous said...

5:47

Thank you for you kind reply.

Do you often stalk your prey?

Anonymous said...

I agree that the fix was in. This is a case of the chickens guarding the hen house. I also hope that this angers the families of the defendents enough to pursue action - if they were hesitant.

Janet

Anonymous said...

Bring in the FEDS!!!!!

Anonymous said...

People, there is not going to be any federal investigation.

He has been disbarred, he is no longer DA, he has been found guilty of criminal contempt of court and sent to jail, even if only for one day.

This is pretty much the maximum the system can do to him at this point.

Perhaps there are other criminal charges that could be brought against him, but it seems highly unlikely any Durham DA would bring them to trial.

He's going to get killed in any civil trial. He is going to end up broke, unemployable with a crimnal record.

Anonymous said...

If the jails are crowded, Nifong could be home in a few hours (as with N.Richie).

But we all get to see his mug shot next week.

I see t-shirts sales, maybe mugs?

Anonymous said...

Let's look at it this way: one day is a whole lot more than Mike Nifong ever envisioned spending in jail when he took over this case. It's probably a whole lot more than he wants to explain to his kids. And for the rest of their lives, his wife will remember dropping him off at jail and picking him up from jail, and he will know that she remembers that. How much would it be worth to him for her not to have those memories?

Anonymous said...

The key is was the Guilty verdict. Nothing else really amtered.

The court found that he lied. Period. There are others in the DPD that were aware of Nifong's statements to the court. They (and the city) are now more culpable than ever.

I expect the litigation damage requests will be enormous.

Ken
Dallas

Anonymous said...

Look at it this way. The lawyers could have waited until after the Durham W. committee investigation, and got some free discovery. They did not wait.

They have so many smoking guns, they do not need to wait.

Anonymous said...

Well Mikey spent some more money, He could have just apologized to the court and pleaded guilty and gotten the same sentence.

Instead, he dragged it out to the end (contempt), and again (Bar hearing), and again (resigning). He never learns.

Money well spent Mikey, no really. (LOL)

Anonymous said...

Will Mike get to take a shower in jail?

Anonymous said...

By the way,

BRAVO
Dr Johnson
BRAVO

Anonymous said...

The g88 will say since he only got 1 day something happened.

Anonymous said...

JLS says....,

inman I am just reporting what I heard on CourtTV. That is the Finnerty attorney said, the Feds have been monitoring this situation. But I agree with anon 6:32, NC eventually sorted this out. The Feds are likely to let it go unless they see a pattern of discrimination against white defendants or Duke students.

The latter point is why I said about the Duke SR's column the other day that it was ok but she and the Duke paper are missing the huge issue. Three people is one thing, but a pattern of maltreating a class of people, Duke students, just because they belong to that class is what might really get the Feds interested. And I am shocked that the Duke student paper has not editorialized about this every day since the first report last fall of the DPD treating Duke students differently.

Anonymous said...

AP - Arron Beard (this will follow Judge Marcia Morey around for the rest of her professional life)(I guess I'm changing my opinion of her)

An unusual moment came before Nifong's testimony, when a judge testified that she expected lawyers to be more honest during trial than during pretrial hearings.

A prosecutor asked the judge, Marcia Morey, whether a lawyer would be following his duty to be candid if he assured a judge that a report was complete when the lawyer knew it to be incomplete.

It depended on whether the case had reached trial, Morey said.

"I do think it makes a difference," Morey said. "Are you are at a trial stage, are you at a pretrial conference."

Anonymous said...

I am still befuddled as to why the DOJ (Dept. of Justice) has not stepped in. The conspiracy that had to occur for 3 clearly innocent men to be put thru this for the time they were is not a good plug for the NC criminal justice system. Only the Feds have the resources to put an end to the corruption that exists in Durham and to expose a system that endangers the public. How is it that 3 men can be indicted with zero evidence that a crime occured, have a private DNA lab write up an incomplete report that leaves out exculpatory evidence, have witnesses intimidated, allow racist organizations make death threats IN a court of law, have a police dept. that literally makes up a line-up and violates procedure after procedure, have a community that allows vigilante posters to go up all over the public domain, and victimize 47 innocent people. How did an NTO order for 47 people ever get approved? Only the DOJ can get to the bottom of all these questions (and more I am sure I have left out), and prosecute those who abused power and/or position to to the detriment of INNOCENT people.

The DOJ needs to come in with all its fury.

BDay

Anonymous said...

"but a pattern of maltreating a class of people, Duke students"

Not at all. Really just a matter of allocating Law Enforcement Resources. Considered and established policy of both Duke U. and Durham. All very proper. (Reference Giuliant's penchant for allocating Law Enforcement Resources in non-white communities. See, it's not wrong.)

Anonymous said...

KC's talk at Duke *is* open to the public. Page auditorium has over 1,200 seats.

We are hoping to webcast the event.

Anonymous said...

6:49 I disagree about the feds. They should be the very last resort. NC should and is cleaning up it's own mess.

That is as it should be, don't you think?

By the way, many thanks to all who have provided rolling commentary...

I'm unsure what to make of the one day, but would guess the judge realizes that this action is just the "teaser" for what is about to happen to Mike Nifong and friends.

Debrah said...

TO 7:09PM--

Wonderful.

I want to see it.

Debrah said...

I'm a little perturbed; however, the fact that he got jail time at all is a victory.

How many times has anyone seen lawyers demand accountability from their own so publicly?

Moreover, everyone knows this is far from the end.

Mikey and Cy will be broke before Mikey is off the skewer.

I knew he would get some kind of jail time. The eyes of the country are on this.

Anonymous said...

I am new to reading this site and am a bit startled at the blood lust many seem to have for Nifong, a thirst for vengeance I have not seen before during the discipline/prosecution of a DA in NC. I'm all for weeding out cheating DAs, but I am curious about the outcry over the lacrosse case and the lack of an outcry over more-egregious injustices.

In "this part" of the blogosphere, where were the cries for blood for the Gell prosecutors? How about the Honeycutt/Brewer fiasco? Those DAs lied about/hid/ignored evidence that put folks on death row! Are the Duke 3 somehow more deserving of an honest prosecutor and the protections of the Sixth Amendment?

Anonymous said...

This blog is about the Duke case. That we care about this case doesn't mean we don't care about other injustices. Your comment is like criticizing the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Cats (if there is one) because it doesn't do anything for dogs.

Anonymous said...

7:20

Thank you for your observations.

I think I speak for all when I say that most agree that there is other injustice. We just did not kow about it. We are now aware and are certainly more sensitive to the potential for egregious prosecutorial misconduct.

For any number of reasons, this case has galvanized an interest. Perhaps good will come of that.

Anonymous said...

7.20 ...

This case, KC's blog, great defense, opened a lot of people's eyes to the corrupt system.

Personnally it is true this case that I learned about the Innocence Project and many other organizations trying to fix what's wrong with our CJ system.

Bloggers here are I'm sure outraged at all cases of injustice. This one exposed the mechanics better than any previous and the Genie is out of the bottle. All cases will benefit from the depth of outrage expressed here, have no doubt.

Anonymous said...

Now wouldn't it be great if the professoriate could be responsible enough to discipline its own?

For some faculty there could be fines, for other professors there could be "jail time" -- forced to listen to speeches by Horowitz or GW Bush ... or wait -- to hear recitations of this blog and the comments! :D

Debrah said...

To 7:20PM--

It's puzzling to me why you cannot understand the appeal and the interest of the lacrosse case.

So much of life is full of unfairness and ambiguity. Not so here. This case will bear positive fruit for many for years to come who find themselves falsely accused or tied up unfairly inside the legal system.

As with everything artistic, allow for some dramatic license and feel the delicious taste of much-earned national Schadenfreude when what goes around comes around.

No gray areas on this one.

This is an affirmation that good things still happen in life.

Anonymous said...

7.20

You did not say, but could it be that you are new to bloggs in general?

They are somewhat like going to a specialty store. They don't sell pizzas at McD.

I'm a sports fan, but I cannot root for Payton Manning and the Colts in this blog. Maybe no one would care, or worse yet, they could be San Diego fans. There are tons of blogs for every imaginable subject. I looked at a Falcon's blog and they were all Vick fans, I just left. They were there to talk about their passion, and they would not have been interested in Duke and Nifong.

Just a thought. No one here wants to be maligned for their thoughts. Also, we are often reminded to stay on subject--no matter who you support.

Go Payton!!

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