Seligmann opens by talking about his athletic and academic prowess in high school, and then moves on to discuss finding out about the allegations (from the newspaper).
Q: Were you reluctant to give DNA?
A: No--was told that this would be the best way to prove innocence.
As he was leaving the police station following his giving of DNA, Gottlieb told him that the police would take care of everything, and clear the case up; that everything would be just fine. "Don't you worry."
After story broke with Nifong's statements, statements "turned our world upside down." Affected how professors viewed the players.
Show video of protest on Duke campus from March 29--the day when the potbangers spread the "wanted" posters.
Had to change their way of life on campus--"wanted" poster.
Was taking an African-American history class (taught by Group of 88 member Raymond Gavins)--his study partner drops him, publishes a piece in the Chronicle comparing the Duke lacrosse team to the Jim Crow south.
Notes effect of Nifong's false claim of wall of silence by students.
Everyone on team assumed that it was going to be the three guys who lived in the house--"never thought in a million years that I would ever be a suspect."
His father is there; he sat to the ground, and said his life is over. Got up; he and his father were hugging each other. First thing he thought about was how he was going to tell his mother.
[People in the courtroom are audibly crying as they are listening to this testimony.]
[This is extremely powerful testimony; the three panelists are watching intently.]
Learned that he would be indicted on his mother's birthday.
In the room as Julian Mack--his then-attorney--learns of the indictments over the phone. "Room felt like it was spinning."
His father said they needed to work immediately to put together alibi information: hadn't even remotely thought he would be picked, so had no alibi information. Called Father Luke Travers, Delbarton headmaster, told him that he would have to be by his side when he called her to tell her. (Kathy Seligmann had been at one of his brothers' lacrosse games.)
Could hear her at the other end of the phone--"the life was sucked right out of her." He tried to calm her down; told her that they could prove that it didn't happen.
Learned that Nifong wanted to come to class and arrest them; told that if it got out to the press, that Nifong would revoke privilege of Collin and him turning themselves in.
Had to tell his girlfriend; she collapsed; had to carry her to his father's car to go to hotel and turn themselves in.
Made bond by borrowing money from friend--after indictments, his family has to leave the house because of media presence.
Remembers Osborn efforts to construct alibi--Wachovia ATM evidence; clearly relevant to Nifong's case, "didn't understand" Nifong's refusal to look, felt "helpless"; wasn't even angry, just baffled.
"Lonely, helpless feeling" when second DNA evidence came back; assumed that this would end the case.
Prior to first appearance, perception of the court system was that everyone was respectful; totally different experience with the May 18 court experience.
"When we came out of the parking garage, swarm of media came sprinting over."
Then encountered reps of New Black Panthers--dressed in fatigues. Planned on keeping his head up, didn't want to put head down. But could barely walk because the news media was so close in front of him, worried about stepping on them. Couldn't even see his father; then encounters NBPP, started screaming, it appeared, from all different angles. Kept saying, "Justice will be done, rapist."; "You're going to get yours, rapist." Trying to keep straight face--but was "terrified." Had never been in a situation like that before in his life.
Once he enters courtroom, had expected things to quiet down; but people speaking obscenities to him, someone says "Dead Man Walking" to him. Nifong was standing at his table, shuffling his papers, and did nothing.
One thing he remembers from hearing is that Nifong was laughing and smirking as Kirk Osborn presented alibi evidence.
"At that point, we understood where we were headed." Still-"I wanted to sit down and talk with him." Confident that if he had chance to sit down and talk with Nifong, he could have persuaded Nifong.
"Couldn't count how many times I thought charges would be dropped" in the duration of the case.
"Every time that discovery came back, it was always something favorable to us, every single time."
Hardest point was when rape charge was dropped. "Felt like we were being toyed with, that Nifong was continuing maliciously."
Cooney meeting with Nifong shortly after Cooney is hired--thought that Jim was a reasonable guy, confident that Cooney would be able to persuade him.
Nifong to Cooney: "Boy, I bet you wish your client hadn't shown his alibi story, because there's no such thing as an airtight alibi. Sure enough," the story was changed--tried to show how DNA and alibi wouldn't be relevant. "Almost predictable."
Even when Nifong recuses, fears that all prosecutors were like Nifong--people who don't listen to alibi and just want to put people in jail.
"All we wanted was fair and just review of the facts."
Was baffled when Cooney would call the Special Prosecutors--didn't think that was how system was supposed to work, given Nifong's conduct.
[This has been devastating testimony for Nifong.]
Roy Cooper--"in a single word ("innocent"), the man gave us our life back." Probably had never been that nervous when he watches Roy Cooper--"felt like an eternity, because he talks really slow." No one in room reacted when Cooper said that there was insufficient evidence to move forward. Room "erupted" when Cooper gave his declaration--"my whole life turned around with that word."
Notes that he received the Delbarton Model from Delbarton--highest honor; "couldn't be prouder to be part of their community."
Freedman declines to cross, and the state rests.
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121 comments:
Gottlieb -- "Don't you worry..."
Just f'ing rich.
Oh, what irony: "Don't you worry."
Gottlieb saying "don't you worry" means run like hell--you're about to get screwed!
My dislike for Nifong grows every time I see him and hear how corrupt and slimy he was...
BDay
Mike Nifong is going to hell for what he put these boys through. He stole so much from them. This is an articulate lovely young man. I would be so proud to have a son like him.
What courage those young men had to face such injustice.
"Affected how professors viewed the players.
Show video of protest on Duke campus from March 29"
Yes!!!!
Just as I had hoped!
Here's an opportunity to get the real story of what happened on campus out into the public eye. He can say "Nifong ruined my life by inspiring Duke faculty and administration to abuse me," and then detail the abuse - and it's not great for Nifong but it's going to be *terrible* for the folks who run Duke.
How sad that this poor kid was taking an african american studies course and ended up ostracized and called a racist for his troubles.
Mike Nifong has a son himself. It still boggles the mind of how he could be so obsessed with convicting these 3 young men, with no proof. He's just a sick, sick man and should never be able to hold public office ever again.
Agree, I would tend to say we don't have to worry about him holding public office again...but you know, Marion Barry was re-elected after it was found he was smoking crack with a ho in the mayor's office...so, in some circles anything is possible.
I can't imagine any parent of a son wanting him to apply to Duke. I think the faculty 88 should apologize. Not that any of 'em will.
Is the Duke student paper covering the trial? Has Duke's publicity department tried to spin this? Very, very unattractive.
This is a real eye opener for how the criminal justice system works. As much as we hate those with money who can buy their freedom by mishmashing the actual facts, we have to be thankful that there are innocent people with money who get railroaded because they have a chance to expose what these prosecutors do.
We cant be so naive to think this is the first time Nifong has done something like this or that other DAs dont do it. This is a way of life for people who dont have money.
If the African American Community would stop bitching about things over race but instead shifted to the economic aspect of how the world works, people of all colors could unite and maybe do something about this.
As long as we are divided racially, this stuff will continue to go on.
What if the defendents had not had money for Bannon, Chesire? Seligman has said as much before.
Makes me want to petition the DOT to put a loop that bypasses Durham completely!
I doubt that Durham is filled with black racists. I'm sure there are some people--black or white--who are envious of Duke, but it seems to me that the instigators in this case weren't black "racists." They were white members of the so-called legal system. And that is very, very frightening.
I"m praying for Reade right now, that this somehow gives him some peace.
The utter absence of regret from Mr. Nigong and all in charge in Durham, the media and the Duke faculty and administration is frightening.
All future high school students looking at Duke should take note. Parents should also consider the location of colleges you are considering as you start the summer visits.
Thanks again KC. Stay the course Reade.
Come to class to arrest them?? My God, why not just say what he really wanted to do and bring the rope and hang them in the Quad??
This is powerful stuff. Any jury would probably be considering the death penalty for Nifong at this point. It is ripping Reade apart - again - and he is reacting just as a falsely accused person would.
I wish the camera was panning back and forth between Reade and Nifong.
9:35
Has nothing to do with money. Consequences of Nifong's treachery need to be detailed and aired again and again. Maybe then this will not happen to you or someone important to you...
What people are overlooking is that Nifong ALMOST got away with this.
Bannon said yesterday that after Nifong's "Whoa" peformance only Cheshire wanted to go forward w/Meehan.
IF they had not put Meehan on the stand, unprepared and under oath does anyone think he would have admitted to the April 10th meeting, and to all the times he told Nifong about the DNA, or even that Nifong knew about the DNA?
Having seen that weasle on the stand I have no problem believing he would have completely lied and then where would we be?
09:35, sorry that you've lost your compassion and sense of justice somewhere along the way.
Spectators crying in the courtroom ... I've got tears just reading this from 500 miles away.
I can imagine how this must have felt to Reade's mother.
Nifong is such scum.
The Duke Chronicle has generally been very fair in its coverage. You can check out their coverage here:
http://www.dukechronicle.com/
9:35
Have some compassion, please.
9:35...
you are heartless. Most honest men would have felt and acted the same way..
9:35
How is an 18 year old kid supposed to react when some crazy DA arrests him for a crime he didnt' commit, ruins his life and tries to railroad him into 30 years in prison?
You need an attitude adjustment or another blog.
poster 9:35. I grew up poor too, it didn't effect my ability to know right from wrong.
This has nothing to do with poor or rich. This could be you if you live in Durham. This so called crying you are talking about is the story, from the real person who was railroaded, falsely accused, threatened and almost put in prison for 30 years for something he did not do.
Every adult involved in this whole disgrace should be held accountable. The rest of the country is watching.
I have been crying the whole time, especially knowing that Nifong MADE this happen, knowing they were innocent. What a horrible, disgusting piece of garbage he is. How Reade's mom can be in the same room with him without tearing him apart and screaming at him is beyond me!!!!
duke2009mom
What a foul, wretched, miserable piece of corrupt humanity is Nifong! There is no word to describe the evil that resides in that man.
Now we are starting to get somewhere with the enablers. Good. Nifong is corrupt and unethical, but this case only had 'legs' because so many enablers assisted him. The unprofessional cops, the crooked laboratory, and the nurse with an agenda were all players. But the real enablers were two groups, one of which has, until now, been able to keep out of the spotlight in this hearing. Those groups are, of course, the media, and a substantial group of academics at Duke and elsewhere.
The potbangers, the identity studies faculty, the ideology driven, self-righteous activists and their puppets in the administration and the board all need much more attention.
While Nifong may rightly loose his license to practice law, and (we can hope!) be sued into poverty, or even do time in jail, there are two groups that still need cleaning up. The media (are you reading, Duff Wilson and John Feinstein?), and the academy. Duke should settle this by paying the families a cash settlement that exceeds what they've spent, and clean house. A new board of trustees, new president and administrators who understand right and wrong would be a good start.
0:935 - Why are you poor? My husband came to this country with a few dollars in his pocket and we now have a very comfortable life. My parents did the same. My brothers and I put ourselves through college. This case has struck at my heart because we have scrimped and saved all of our lives to save for our children's education. No new cars, or anything fancy, but they will be able to go to the college of their choice. If this happened to my kid after our sacrifice and people like you came forward in judgement, I don't know what I would do. I assume that you don't have children. You lack of love is apparent.
to 9:35...I sincerely hope you have to face a similar serious indictment some day...knowing you could be locked up for over 30 years...for something you never did.
Reade's testimony highlights one of the reasons why prosecutors MUST act ethically. Ruining an innocent life is itself a great crime.
BDay
All I can do right now is imagine my own son in his place.
I keep thinking of the parallels between this and "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Does amyonedoubt that Nifong would have planted DNA if he had been able to or if he had the foresight.
Hanging is too good for this bastard.
It isn't about the three or the coach or the lacrosse team. It is about "us" as Pogo used to say. What are we going to do about it.
Duke needs. It isn't and never was the lacrosse coach who needed to go. The Group88 needs to be disciplined period, and the whole process of it is about protecting the law and respecting the law and knowing or trusting the law and its ability to protect us all, all of us, the citizes of us, the black and white of us. This is horrible not just what happened to the three innocents or Duke University or Durham or to North Carolina but to us. I am just sick to my stomack about this. Thse young men believed what we had taught them. Can you imagine? Can you imagine?
MrRabbit: It's enough to make a strong man sick to hear of what these young men, their friends and family had to endure. There was a time in the south when someone like Mike Nifong would be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail. But then again, sinful as it may be, I am enjoying every minute of this. A penitent human (not Nifong) would be prostrating himself on the floor by now. One seldom gets an opportunity in a lifetime to learn and observe such a scoundrel. His son, undoubtedly will have to change his name from the disgrace of it all.
what penalty can possibly be given to Nifong to give this kid and society justice?
He should serve the sentence that he was trying to give the kid. Lose a Bar license? Big deal. Hide your assets and be sued into bankruptcy? Big deal.
The punishment is not going to fit the crime in this case.
Hey 9:35;
this is the US of A...if you are poor get off you lazy ass and do something about it. There is no country on earth, like the US, that allows poor people to become rich with a little hard work.
And beside, I am sick and tired of supporting the likes of you through food stamps, welfare, etc.
Where are the Black Panthers today? Where is Al Sharpton? Where is the NAACP?
The fact they are silent shows who the true racists are in this country
9:52 AMEN!!!!!
re: 9:35
Reade was on 90% scholarship and I recall that his parents were not wealthy but worked hard and made a nice middle-class living for their family.
I came from a single-parent minority family and my wife from a third-world country but we've made a comfortable life for our family over two decades through hard work, luck and grace.
You are denigrating the efforts of the parents in building a life and building a set of fine children. Perhaps you do not realize how hard it is to build some modicum of wealth over time and build a healthy family that can be ruined by the whim of someone that doesn't care about the fabric of a country.
You are insulting parents everywhere that have put in the effort to raise healthy and that's why there are so many parents outraged over Nifong's behaviour.
I'm saddened that you can't see this but perhaps you will with age, maturity and wisdom.
----
This video stuff is just devastating. That judge is coming off like a major a$$$$$$.
The days of the Great Traffic Court Bully are winding down. Ah, the fortunes of war. One year you are dishing out petty tortures over uncalibrated parking meters (a Nifong hour has 48 minutes in it), the next year, you get your comeuppance because you're stupid to know when to quit. If Tara Levicy gets to testify today, I might just throw a party from the joy of it all.
Did we have to go attacking poor people? That is not productive for anyone.
What are the 'Fong's reactions to Seligmann's testimony??
re: 9:49
What does Nifong say to his own son after his son watches this?
9:56
Let's not forget Easley who appointed him, whether or not he never expected him to run, Easley is the one who gave the traffic court ayatollah control over Durham's law enforcment and all becuase he didn't like Freda Black.
Nifong was never qualifed to be DA, he likely was only qualified for traffic court and that's why he was there...the whole health thing is window dressing...the gov. doesn't give you a menial task job if you are capable, they give you a menial task job because they're trying to minimize the damage you can do.
The sentence should be Duke needs change.
Man, you have to feel for those boys after this testimony. What a bastard for what he did to them.
Someone make a sign
"Disbarred Attorney Walking"
SOCIOPATH is the proper designation for Nifong. Looking at him sitting and watching, he doesn't have an ounce of human compassion in him. I want to see him fry!
It bears restating--doesn't this turkey know his goose is cooked? Maybe he has a martyr complex? How can one explain his failure to simply end it by handing in his card?
After today the only decent thing Brodhead can do is summarily fire the G88 and deal with the consequences - tenure or no tenure.
I think I understand why they are having him testify...sure, for the emotional impact, but most lawyers still believe in the justice system.
To hear firsthand that a courtroom was allowed to be so out of control that people were shouting obscenities and threats has to make these lawyers sick, same with the idea of a district attorney, not some new ADA fresh out of law school, but a DA with 30 years experience SMIRKING and LAUGHING at defense council will similarly make them sick.
Seligman is there to show what a mockery Nifong made of the entire judicial process, even apart from his criminal actions.
Don't you think that Nifong will be asked the equivalent of "Do you still beat your wife" today?
As in, "Has it always been your practice to indict people on as little evidence as you had in this case?"
Disbarment is far too light. Nifong should go to jail for his actions. This is not only obstruction of justice, but the false creation of injustice.
BDay
I understand bringing the wife. But Nifong having his son there, well what a creep Nifong is.
His son will never forget this hearing and will know what his father did.
Nifong to Cooney: "Boy, I wish your client hadn't shown his alibi story, because there's no such thing as an airtight alibi. Sure enough," the story was changed--tried to show how DNA and alibi wouldn't be relevant. "Almost predictable."
-------------------------
Dear god, what a monster.
Any remaining questions on why the defense stopping give him the exculpatory material they had, or Finnerty's alibi information?
Didn't think so.
I'm a grown man and this is bringing tears to my eyes. God, I can't imagine having to tell my mother that I stood accused of rape. That's where I lost it.
duke2009mom said...
How Reade's mom can be in the same room with him without tearing him apart and screaming at him is beyond me!!!!
I suspect Mrs Seligmann has a bit more class than the likes of...say, Victoria Peterson.
10:04
Absolutely dead-on. The lack of decorum is unbelievable. 99% of judges would have cleared the courtroom or even thrown those people in jail--you do not threaten people in court. AS a lawyer, it makes me sick to think about that.
Nifong is a despicable POS.
Nifong deserves to be imprisoned for precisely 3 times the sentence he attempted to mete out on these three innocent young men.
His complete disgregard for justice, fairness, impartiality, and objectivity is breath taking. He ignored all the facts and all the evidence and instead pursued with single minded goal a politically motivated conviction.
He is an abomination and a disgrace to the justice system in this country.
It's only a shame that all the media hounds and fascist professors at Duke can't be similarly prosecuted for insisting before any evidence was heard that these boys must be guilty, and even if they weren't guilty (when all the massive mounds of evidence started piling up) it really didn't matter because they are rich white kids and should be framed and have their lives destroyed because of 'what happened in the past'.
God, when Nifong testifies.... They're going to bury him at Cross.
"Freedman declines to cross"
Smartest thing he's done all week.
If I was inclined to bet, I would bet that Nifong's lawyers overruled him on not crossing Seligman.
I would bet that Nifong wanted them to cross him about underage drinking, strippers, emails, racist statements, why he left in the cab and go through every big of his alibi in order to try and discredit him.
Freedman declines to cross.
Damn right.
Unfortunjately, this is only a Bar hearing...however, I suspect that Nifong is headed for a criminal trial given his multiple lies in court. If regular people can go to jail for perjury, a licensed attorney--one sworn to uphold the law--should go to prison for a long, long, long time.
Racist acts & playing the race card by many blacks (panthers, NCCU students, Duke faculty, black "ministers," Duke students, et. al.) have been spotlighted in this case. As well as race-mongering by black "leaders."
It is sad and disappointing. If Sharpton/Jackson/some of the 88/NCCU students, etc are for justice for all, why do they not select to speak out now that the true victims turned out to be white males? The generalized resentment and double standards do not help anyone are wrong - no matter your color. What's so astounding is that so many choose not to "get" that most fundemental of principles.
Ed
A small point--I think Reade said Nifong told Cooney "Bet you wish your client hadn't shown his alibi story," not "Boy, I wish . . . "
It occurs to me that the motion for directed verdict--focusing on the conspiracy with Dr. Meehan--is really concerned with heading off criminal prosecution for conspiracy to violate the civil rights of the three defendants. This is the place where Nifong is most exposed to prosecution, and if that piece could be dismissed, even if he's disbarred, a US attorney might think twice about prosecution.
Also, Nifong may be going through this whole exercise in order to get everyone's sworn testimony on record now, before a federal investigation unearths more details. Nifong would be highly attuned to the idea that each person's story could be tweaked, since he's dealt with the truth in that manner himself.
I was sobbing at my computer while Reade testified. What a class act.
I want Nifong in prison. He is a criminal, nothing less. I am feeling the panel will have trouble NOT feeling the same....
they were rapt while Reade talked.
should read "help anyone 'and' are wrong."
Ed
If the bar finds him guilty of withholding evidence, it would be tantamount to finding that he broke the law, though not sure what the burden of proof is in this case, probably not beyond a reasonable doubt but clear and convincing or something similiar to the civil burden of proof.
It sounds like Smith? is going to eventually sanction him if the bar finds him guilty of making false statements to the court...I believe thats why he sent out his memo, to disentangle himself from Nifong's tortured defense of if he had broken the law Smith would have sanctioned him so since he didnt' get sanctioned, he couldn't have broken the law.
Duke's loss is Brown's gain.
~Duke '91
Meehan is an erratic witness!!! Good-bye Mr Nifong.
Oh My God - we've conferred.
Bye, bye, Nifong.
I just got through watching Reade's testimony particularly when he had to tell his parents about his indictment and the death threat he received. One can only hope that Nifong loses more than his law license. I also sincerely hop that Reade's parents as well as the parents of the other 2 students begin to use the courts to hold people accountable for their deliberate actions: Duke and that gang of 88 teachers, the NAACP, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, the NY Times, and all the other slanderers that nearly destroyed the lives of these kids and their families. As far as Crystal Magnum there is a special place in hell for her - I just wonder if Jesse will pay for her scholarship there.
"A small point--I think Reade said Nifong told Cooney "Bet you wish your client hadn't shown his alibi story," not "Boy, I wish . . . ""
This is the next Big Train coming down at Nifong--criminal conspiracy effected through Wilson's "interview."
The likes of Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, the NAACP and the new black panthers are out there trying to prove they are equal (equal to whom?). Yet with their behavior in this case, it single-handedly proves they are not.
Typo: "Delbarton Model" should be "Delbarton Medal"
Crystal Mangum will end up in jail, rehab or a psych ward, and dead at an early age.
I wouldn't even put it past her to make another accusation of rape, my count puts her already at THREE false accusations.
"Freedman declines to cross, and the state rests."
Nifong still doesn't want to hear Seligmann's alibi. :-D
If regular people can go to jail for perjury, a licensed attorney--one sworn to uphold the law--should go to prison for a long, long, long time.
Lawyers who are democrats do not go to jail for lying. See Bill Clinton, Sandy Berger, Alcee Hastings, T. Jefferson
and Mike Nifong.
mrs. prosecutor--I agree
plus 'Fong doesn't want to be asked that question by the Bar authorities
he's in some serious hot water
RE: Manning up and controlling the tears.
I used to be a tough SOB, loved my career in the military, hunted for pleasure, poor as dirt (but no longer).
I have posted maybe twice on this case (and I have been following since the very beginning). Lemme tell you something:
I had to close my office door during testimony so my freakin' subordinates do not see my crying.
This whole g-dd-mn case strikes to the heart of being a man, of the danger we face in a time when roles are changing, when "classism" and victimhood trump individual effort and initiative.
Among nightmares for a man, being attacked by a woman (and then by "the authorities") ranks right up there. When a woman strikes you, you can't strike back; hell, you can't even explain yourself without looking foolish.
Why did Reade cry? Because the whole thing is absurd, overwhelming, and damn frightening. You will note he did NOT cry when confronted with the New Black Panthers--fear does not make us cry. Emotions become overwhelming when you force a man to ADMIT and EXPLAIN his fear (rather than confront it), to REVEAL his vulnerability, what we sometimes call "weakness"; THAT is what is just too much for the action-oriented, non-introspective, somewhat-less-sensitive half of the population.
Reade was attacked in a way that left him unable to respond. In re-telling the story, in sharing his helplessness (utter humiliation for a man--not just a male but a MAN), the only outlet--in the formal courtroom context--for the resulting psychic turmoil was through his freakin' tear ducts!
Mine too, g-dd-mnit.
Reade is more man than most of us can ever hope to be--and some males really resent that.
God bless you, Reade Seligman.
Read- You are are a real class act guy!
Congrats to your parents for raising such a fine young man!
10:41: I don't know if you're really 9:35, but maturity bring a lot of blessings and a lot of burdens. These 3 guys had more dumped on them than most of us can even begin to imagine. Some of us are parents, and some are Duke alums, or have other "connections" with these guys, and this past year has been heart-breaking to a lot of us. It's NOTHING compared to what these guys and their families have been through.
Anonymous Bosh: Thank you for putting into worlds what I have been thinking. Yeah, I bawled, too, and I'm a retired "tough guy."
The BOP in the Bar trial is "clear and convincing" evidence.
Reade Seligmann courageously demonstrated the personal and human toll visited on the innocent by a so-called "rogue" prosecutor.
Think of all lives -devastated- by just this one prosecutor, and factor the number by ten, then factor it again.
Now let's see if North Carolina deems Nifong enough to warrant disbarment.
And if Cooper will now deem Nifong's criminal conduct as within the Attorney General's "statutory" authority.
Watch the 'Fong's eye-blink rate. As an interrogator, I look for this to see whether the responder is comfortable. He ain't!
9:35/10:41...A I said before,,,I sincerely hope you face such an indictment someday. Tough guys like yourself are the first to cry like a baby when something bad happens...only a matter of time for you.
And by the way...get a job.
If one thinks back over Reade's testimony, his tears surface when expressing the pain about to be inflicted on his Mom and Dad. It's clearly not for himself. Hope every young man reading this posts will understand what it means to be a good son. Reade embodies what it means to be a good son and a good human being. Reade was a terric witness against the face of evil, Mike Nifong, and he should take great pride that he put the final touch on bringing this criminal to justice. God Bless Reade as he moves on with his new life.
to 10:37:
I nominate you for "best, most eloquent post of the day."
Wish you had posted more -- i.e. more often than just twice before, during these long months. I'd like to have received more of the benefit of your wisdom.
dear 10:59,
I do have a part time job after school, is that ok?
So I am a future (cry baby) criminal, in your opinion, because of the few sentences I wrote here.
You should work for nifong, you convict on less evidence than him
9:57 I would submit to you that anyone reading and writing to this blog is not poor.
It is clear however that there are a few takers, and many, many givers on this blog.
KC does indeed deserve a Pulitzer and most of those that post should be commended for their lucid, and mostly polite comments - in spite of the outrage.
10:37
Sir, you are a gentleman and a scholar. My feelings and thoughts exactly. Crying is no shame...lack of integrity and morals is the real shame here and should be felt by the prosecutor, not the gents on the lacrosse team.
I agree that I am proud of these young men who overcame in the face of adversity...and pray that I or my three boys never have to do the same!
Duke 1990
10:17 Ed, you left out the clergy with the Duke Chapel. Didn't they provide some ripe sermons? Isn't that nice?
The leftists are running the asylum and we're paying for it. Even if you don't have a child at Duke, you are paying these frauds through Federal subsidized loans.
10:29 --
You said that by your count CGM has made three false accusations of rape now. I wonder if you could tell us which incidents you're referring to? I only know of two: there is of course the accusations made against the lacrosse players, and there is the August 1996 claim that she made of having been raped in June 1993. Can you tell us what the third was?
I stumbled on a video stream of Seligman's testimony, apparently right at the beginning. I was riveted to this testimony, at times choking back tears. It reminded me of watching Saving Private Ryan. I am no wimp.
This just sent from a friend, reminds me that Duke has abdicated it's reach toward excellence (and certainly truth) and instead is winning the race to the bottom. Today Durham has zero "world class" universities. Those who argue otherwise have been silent and abet the frauds.
'Chancellor Yang Fujia, who is Chancellor of Nottingham University told Dr. "X" an interesting encounter he had with the then Prime Minister of Israel Yitzhak Rabin, when Rabin was visiting China’s Fudan University when Yang was the President.
Yang asked Rabin the following question: “Mr. Prime Minister, your country only has 6 million people, it has no natural resources, it has no oil underground to speak of, it is mostly desert, and yet it is today an agriculture and high technology powerhouse. How did your country do that?”
Rabin answered: “We have 6 world class universities!”'
I made the comment above about Saving Private Ryan. Just to clarify...I was reminded of my feeling of trying -- not entirely successfully to maintain my composure. There is not intent whatever to compare this matter itself or the suffering or courage of the Lax boys to the men portrayed in Private Ryan. My comment seems bound to be misunderstood. It was an unfortunate comparison.
9:35...
I don't care that you have a job or not...you are the one crying 'poor.' I've not called you a criminal, but I predict with your tough-guy attitude, it will get you in trouble and you will be in front of a judge someday.
All the evidence I need is in your previous posts, and the evidence clearly shows you are a wise-ass little punk.
Reade was riveting.
I couldn't help but cry.
His testimony will be a key element, not only with regard to the Bar's decision, but for a vivid memory of just how this hoax damaged lives.
Debrah
For Anonymous Bosh @10:37-
Thank you for posting a most eloquent, noble, and moving statement.
Tom
9:35,
I mean Crystal Mangum: what the hell are you doing on a computer whining about your wretched life when you have little ones to take care of?
Shame on you!
Does anyone know where to get a video of Reade's testimony?
125
KC, thank you for your coverage of this. I find myself listening to it on WRAL and running back here to read your summation and thoughts on this. I was struck by what the three players have been through as I heard Seligman testify. If you can please let the guys know that many in Durham believed they were innocent. I can't imagine that Mr. Nifong won't be disbarred.
Reade Seligman is a courageous young man. I admire his courage and his heart. He did something of extreme importance, he showed the world that the lacrosse players are not monsters, not women haters, not stupid etc etc. He showed without a shadow of a doubt that he and by association the other lax players are fine young men.
Importantly he also showed the emotional pain that goes along with false accusation . This has been completely omitted until this point. This is huge. People need to know the emotional chaos and pain these young men had to endure. The potbangers need to be force fed his testimony so they can slowly start to digest that they have been fueled in their previous judgments by hatred and prejudice.
Brodhead needs to bow at this young man's feet and beg forgiveness for his juvenile and cowardly behavior that used his position of power to promote this atrocity.
Damn! Reade Seligman has accomplished in a short time what others have been floundering to try to do. God bless him, his family, and all those who have been knocked around by this hatred. He is an activist whether he knows it or not. I wish he would find me at the web site below.
Boys and the Boy Crisis
Freedman declines to cross...
Nicely understated. Even Dr. Kevorkian would have advised Freedman not to cross.
Tom Maguire
I didn't see 9:35 am's comment but I take it he took Reade to task for losing his composure. After what Reade's been through, its a wonder he didn't lose his mind. Walk in his shoes first and then criticize. I would love to see 9:35 am get steamrollered on a football field by Reade. As good as Read was at lacrosse in HS (good enough to be recruited by a top D-1 program obviously), in my view he was even better at running back. Because my son was his classmate, I saw most of his games. He is considerably faster and tougher than his baby-faced looks would imply. At 6 feet 225 with excellent speed, he made many exciting runs bursting right up the middle and deftly avoidng or shedding tackles. He played his entire senior year on a badly injured ankle and still had a remarkable season. Having seen him recently, I know that he has not been destroyed by this. Revisiting the past year at the hearing was extraordinarily painful I am sure, but he was very positive and forward looking when I spoke to him. He is a tremendous young man and I am proud that my son has such a person as a friend.
I couldn't have been prouder of you today, Reade. He is a remarkable young man. He had to turn into a man too early because of Mr. Nifong. He stripped him of his carefree college life. Mr. Nifong clearly deserves EVERTHING he is about to get and more. Reade will never get back the year of his life that he lost.
I was at work on break when I saw part, only part, of Reade Seligmann's testimony, and that little bit was enough to almost put me in tears. Had I seen the whole thing, I'm certain I would have been weeping openly. All of this could have been avoided had Mike Nifong not been a sociopath and possibly a malignant narcissist.
As much of a horror as this has been for Reade, I can't help thinking -- for everyone else, Nifong choosing Reade to target was a blessing. It's not just that Reade had such an excellent alibi, it's that he has, from all reports not just an excellent but an exemplary character. I believe one of the lacrosse players told of an incident where a faculty member switched from assuming that the charges were true to knowing that they were false in the space of a sentence when she found out that Reade was one of the ones alleged to have committed the deeds. As agonizing as it was for Reade to go through this ordeal, I believe that he was a major factor in the case coming to this point, Nifong's sociopathy laid bare for all to see. I hope he can take some comfort in that.
Many of the comments on this comments are fascinating. Those that attempt to make the trial a left-right affair are, however, misguided. What happened here has been a miscarriage of justice. One hopes that justice is available to everyone.
3:54 -- well said. The rightists who are trying to hijack the story now to an agenda of "look how depraved the non-whites/leftists/feminists are" are no less reprehensible than those who tried to hijack it to an agenda of "look how depraved the whites/rich/males are" back then.
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