Motion Filed Against Durham City Manager

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Eyewitness News

(05/16/06 - DURHAM) (WTVD) -- Durham City Manager Patrick Baker is defending his actions during the Duke lacrosse rape investigation.

Baker says as the city's chief executive officer, he has a duty to know what's happening in Durham. That's why he interviewed police officers about the way they're investigating allegations of rape lodged against Duke athletes.

But a defense lawyer says Baker's conversations with police are wrong.

Baker reacted to the motion filed Monday by Reade Seligmann's attorney, Kirk Osborn.

"Absolutely in no way shape or form am I inserting myself improperly into this case." Baker said.

Osborn says this motion is an effort to get the District Attorney's Office to turn over evidence ranging from the alleged victim's cell phone records to Durham police records.

Osborn wants a hearing Thursday to protect evidence that, in his words, "would spoil if not preserved properly."

According to the motion, since City Manager Baker has the power to hire and fire Durham's police chief, Baker could pressure Durham officers to "get their story straight in the rape investigation," according to Osborn.

Baker says he's just doing his job.

"I think it's proper for a city manager to know what's going on with his subordinates and that's all that I've done here," he said. "I'm not trying to make sure any gets their story straight."

Osborn's motion also states the city manager's recent investigation of the way Durham officers handled the rape investigation may "be improper."

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