The cross-examination continues; with Nifong continuing to engage in word games.
Nifong in deposition denied that he went over the May 12 report with Dr. Meehan.
Now he acknowledges that he did go over that report--after Meehan told the DHC that he had gone over the report with Nifong.
Now is saying that he didn't necessarily ever read the May 12 report, and certainly not closely. Yet the Meehan report came up at May 18, June 22, Sept. 22 hearings--and Nifong never took a look at the report despite the fact that he commented about it.
Brocker is now going through Nifong's various tales about his meetings with Dr. Meehan. Nifong is still claiming that he has no specific recollection of the 4-10 meeting with Meehan. Brocker gets Nifong to concede that he found out about unidentified male DNA before the Seligmann and Finnerty indictments.
Not intentionally false statement to the Court--didn't realize that the exculpatory material was in the report.
Brocker: his subject comes up repeatedly in hearings: how is it possible that Nifong never even read the report?
"Quite possible" that he did not read discovery requests that came from Seligmann, Finnerty, and Evans attorneys--this would explain why he didn't hand over the relevant material.
Brocker has a dispassionate, dry cross-examination style: Nifong's basic defense appears to be that he didn't read defense requests--in the only case that he was trying, and in a case that he claimed was the most important since he had become DA.
June court hearing: concedes that defendants were asking about an April 10 meeting with Meehan, even though he was talking about a May 12 meeting.
Concedes he might not have been as "attentive" as he might have been.
Brocker: notes the irony: what Nifong termed a "witch-hunt" request led to the uncovering of the exculpatory DNA evidence.
"Unintentionally false" statements to the court conceded by Nifong over and over and over again.
Nifong admits: He wants DHC to maintain that he did not intentionally mislead the Court because he believed the Meehan report contained everything and he hadn't read the report--even though in Sept., Nifong reads into the record a letter to the Court from Meehan explicitly stating that he had provided only a limited report.
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81 comments:
KC you are in a class by yourself. Thanks for sharing your extraordinary talent.
I'm waiting for Nifong to say, "Define 'is'..."
For those asking, Nancy Grace again slept in and had someone else cover the trial.
re contradictory statements:
Q: Which one of these is true?
A: each of them was a true statement at the time it was made
The resignation is quite a ploy for sympathy. Given his record of credibility I'd want to see a copy of the signed letter of resignation he must send to the Governor to make this official before I believed it.
Q: "Which of these contradictory versions were true then, Mr Nifong?"
A: "Both of them, at the time they were uttered"
Priceless! At least CGM picked the right prosecutor for her case -- they're on the exact same wavelength.
"yes sir it appears to be contradictory. Each is a true statement insofar as I believed it was a true statement. I dont know that I have intentionally denied saying that".... and so on.
Maybe we can unintentionally and insofar as we can recall, throw this doofus in jail for 20 years.
Word games....a kind way of saying prevarications and contradictions . This Nifong is pathological in his lies and has no real grasp of speaking truth at any moment in time . He needs to be incarcerated to protect society at large . Scary Stuff to be sure !
Time to roll on your buddy Meehan.
I know you got it in you.
He's just throwing things at the wall to see what sticks...standard practice.
KC,
Thank you for doing this. 1 suggestion...you are putting this under the label of "Trial" you may want to specify "Bar Trial" as I am certain that this won't be the last for Nifong.
KC - Why is Nifong putting himself through this if he is going to resign? Why doesn't he just turn in his license and fade away?
This guy has lied his entire career. Wonder how many innoncent people are in prison because of his ability to lie?
So let me get this straight--the guy that complained/whined to the media about defense attorneys releasing "favorable" DNA results, "didn't notice" for 6-8 months that (1) he didn't give defense attorneys the news that other male DNA was found on CGM; AND (2) the defense attorneys didn't hold a big press conference to announce that other male DNA was found on CGM?
Wouldn't the first thought that popped into Nifong's head (given his "feelings" for Joe Chesire) when he heard the news about the other male DNA was the press conference that Chesire would have over the news? And Nifong "thought he already turned over this information?"
At this point, has Nifong been caught in more contradictions than Mangum?
All he's doing now is trying to avoid the criminal charges. He starts bucking when questioned in areas which could lead to those charges.
Listening to the "number of meetings" talk, I feel like I'm watching a shell game.
Greta van Susteren, commenting on Fox News "The Big Show" just now asked the question "what did the ADAs in Nifong's office know about this case and when?"
Its his narrative, and he's sticking to it. What a meta-schmuck.
Would think he could resign as DA but still practice law.
Oh come on, you don't think its TOTALLY believable that the defense team that held a press conference to announce no matches would have politely declined to make public that the DNA From TEN MEN was on the complaining witness?
Or, that the defense team, after Nifong told the media more or less was only releasing the parts of the report that were favorable to them and that the whole DNA report was a different story, might have then gone public with the male DNA?
I find it totally logical.
Oh and I forgot, or that the defense would keep on asking for the specifics about DNA testing even though they already had it...
Absofreakinglutely.
I'm waiting for "the dog ate my discovery response."
he just admitted he lied
Is not failure to even read reports he was getting and sending negligence? Is that itself not one possible grounds for a civil suit?
He just admitted making false statements to the court.
Good thing he's in government, or else that would be illegal.
This is better than the Super Bowl !! :=)
BDay
I'm thinking that faililng to read motions from defense and then commenting on them in court is negligent, no?
He is really taking the "me so stupid" defense to the limit.
So, he didn't read any defense motions but felt secure to ridicule them in court and deny that there was any additional discovery they were asking for even though he didnt' know what they were asking for becuase he didn't bother to read the motions.
Really, he isn't qualified for a job as a Wal Mart greeter.
I'd like to see Williamson's reactions televised on a split screen!
He's a giver! That's why he didn't read anything - he was going to give it all, so there was no need to worry about the details of what they were asking for.
Who knew?
Did he just say he assumed guilt, if the case came to him? That he didn't feel the need to look at "everything"...say WHAT?
Unbelievable.
He says.
He absolutely did all those things.
But it was never his intent to do all those things.
Excuse me while I bash my head against the wall.
Brian Meehan is the reason he's going down.
If he had not put Meehan on the stand, thinking the defense had not figured out the DNA or thinking they wouldn't call his bluff none of this would have come out.
W/out Meehan's testimony there would be no proof he knew about the male DNA, he could claim he assumed it was all in the report, etc., etc.
What a complete embarrassment for the City of Durham to be represented by such a moron...what law school did he attend, they should be mortified too.
Disbarred.
That can be the ONLY logical conclusion.
BDay
The Durhamites will probably elect him as mayor. They deserve Mike Nifong in all his glory.
...what law school did he attend
UNC
OJ Simpson had the sense to not take the stand.
OJ Simpson 1
Nifong 0
It's beyond damage control at this point.
I notice that his twitch and facial seizures are gone. He's blinking less. What does this mean? Made peace with his Maker?
OJ would have likely been a much more convincing witness than Mike Nifong!
Never mind....they're back.
His "mistakes" have nothing to do with intelligence.
Had he cared about fairness, truth, and justice, he would have done his job adequately.
Given the fact that he has had prostate cancer, and presumably surgery, I'm baffled at the amount of water the man is drinking with no recesses but one since lunch. May we assume he is really uncomfortable physically as well as psychologically?
ZING with the witch hunt statement.
He THINKS he is safe.. that his "resignation" will buy him credibility!
Does anyone get the impression that Freedman has washed his hands of Fong? I don't believe he has opened his mouth all day.
LIAR !!!!!!!!!!
My strong suspicion is they told him not to testify or invoke his Fifth Amendment privilege and/or that they have tried to get him to make some kind of deal rather than go through w/the hearing.
No lawyer in his right mind would put his client on the stand with this kind of testimony.
what the hell did he do all day, if he did not review any reports, never took notes and did not read discovery requests and this was his only case?
They know he is lying.
what the hell did he do all day, if he did not review any reports, never took notes and did not read discovery requests and this was his only case?
Campaign?
Anyone with an IQ over 50 knows he is lying. It is absurd for this to continue, and I beleive the body language of Mr. Williamson indicates that.
BDay
Did anybody get the sense that when Williamson mentioned the need to "take a break", he was on the verge of following up with: "...because I don't know if I can take much more of this bull...."
Will Nifong be able to stonewall and run out the hearing clock? Or can/will Williamson make sure the cross has enough time to get all the important issues covered?
Any goodwill he tried to buy by resigning is gone. He is insulting their intelligence.
What I don't understand, is why Mr. Nifong went through with this hearing. Unless he thought he had some prayer in hell to win a lesser punishment (that is clearly not the case), he has opened himself up even more to civil suits as everything he said is now on record. Perhaps criminal proceedings ??
He's been insulting their intelligence all day long.
Just a lay person's guess, but I think he's trying to establish claims in the official Bar trial record so he can cite them in any criminal or civil case afterwards.
Maybe some of our lawyers can comment on that ...
Nifong was stupid to show up. He certainly is providing, along with the other witness, a lot of free discovery.
Expect Durham Police and the state to be sued in the near future.
Got to love when the lead detective said "indict? with what". or the DA say we're fucked.
5:47
For the same reason he proceeded for 10 months with a rape case featuring a bipolar,stripper/escort, alleged prostitute with a criminal record, a prior 3-man gang rape beat down, a long history of mental illness and substance abuse so bad it remains under seal who told more than 10 conflicting, irreconcilable versions of her attack, who lied about her sexual activites and who had unidentified DNA from ten men on and in her.
His arrogance has made him delusional.
In his mind, he convinced himself that all of his excuses were believable, so, he went ahead with it.
I am so glad that Nifong did not get away
with his earlier tearful testimony-- and
that all his contradictory statements are
being brought to light and made public.
Getting him to concede that he knew
about the DNA from other multiple males
BEFORE he sought and obtained indictments
against the boys, that was HUGE! That is
so damning -- it still makes me sick to
my stomach to hear that. He has got to
pay big time for this.
When Nifong says he is not a liar, I would ask
in reply: "is Crystal Magnum a liar?"
Can the Bar ask Nifong to reveal what
he told the Grand Jury to obtain the
indictments?
Maybe the bar took a break to talk to Nifong's lawyer about the "mercy rule"?
Michael,
Yes, I think he hoped/expected that the bar would call a recess for the day after his statement and the public/media would be left for the weekend with the image of him crying and talking about his son, resigning for the good of Durham.
Instead, he's right back on cross reminding everyone what a liar he is.
5:41
A disciplinary hrg is much different than a regular criminal trial. It is always vastly better to testify in your own defense. If you refuse, it is counted as uncooperative and sanctions are magnified. If you think this is a disaster, not testifying would be 10x worse (in a disciplinary hrg).
Linwood Wilson should be next, it is apparently clear he fabricated evidence. Roy Cooper should not ignore this.
BDay
If I may ask, what are all possible punishments that can come out of this hearing?
Is it just, can or cannot be disbarred?
Or are there like sanctions and fines that can be levied?
Because I think he is basically, throwing himself at the mercy of the panel and hoping for sympathy. Maybe to keep his law license.
Me thinks there is a method to his madness.
anon 5:56
I agree with you, but not in this case..
The results for Nifong are the same, he loses his license
5:56
However, not testifying and pleading guilty asking for a lighter punishment is not worse, and avoids the loads free discovery that will be used against him down the road...
Westpole says
Stupid to the end. A calculated ploy to save liscense bought him 5 minutes of good will. After his feeble attempt to spin misrepresentations as unintentional falls on unbelieving ears he gains opobrium of all.
Nifong and Meehan and Mangnum lies are transparent.
He wants everyone to believe it matters not how many times he lied or the evil consequences all that matters is that his heart was in a good place.
Did you notice he still refers to her as Victim and recounts the false names that were "made up" by who asks williamson? Nifong didn't say Mangum he said the attackers!! What attackers?
5:56
Really? I would think sitting in front of the panel and lying your azz off hour after hour would increase your punishment a lot more than not taking the stand. I could see if you had a plausible defense or even if you could lie believably, but his performance as far as I can tell, is insulting his audience.
If that's true, what does he have to lose? Pigs might fly, water turn into wine and Williamson could have found him credible.
But not today.
KC,
What is happening now ?
5:50 - Here's Nifong's problem relative to your suggestion that he wants to get certain things on the record in case of [when?] the civil suits start marching in. What he is going to get is a ruling that the Adjudicatory Body didn't believe him, and that he's not credible as a witness. Lot's o' luck using that to your advantage.
Since this started, I've ask the question: "Why is he doing this?" My only answer is that he's a narcissistic sociopath. Thinks he's the smartest guy in the room, and can make anybody believe whatever he says. No lawyer in his right mind would ever have done this. I'd love to know what Nifong's lawyer recommended.
If this is his idea of throwing himself at the mercy of the court, I wonder what his idea of insulting the court's intelligence would be.
Now he's dumbing up, me what do I know?
5:57
you may be right, it may not matter in this case
5:58
it isn't like a criminal trial, I'm not sure the DHC will let you "plead guilty." these hearings are very much about the attorney prostrating himself before the bar and cooperation is generally one of the biggest mitigating factors.
6:00
well I didn't saying lying would help. :)
lying does not = cooperating
6:00
He didn't really have a choice. He HAD to testify.
"...what law school did he attend? UNC"
Well, Duke has Richard Nixon. And you should be pinting fingers?????
UNC JD 90
Williamson also removes his specs to read...
6:19
Dick rocked.
Has anyone at Duke commented on/responded to the trial? Are there going to be claims of being "misled"?
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