Attorneys Dispute Report in Duke Rape Case

Friday, June 23, 2006

(06/23/06 - DURHAM) (WTVD) -- Attorneys for all three players were in court Thursday as the prosecution turned over 536 additional pages of discovery documents in the investigation.

A bitter exchange that started outside of the courtroom when Linwood Wilson, an investigator for the District Attorney's Office, interrupted a press conference by defense attorney, Joseph Cheshire.

The interruption came as Cheshire was referencing the discovery documents that indicate the accuser gave conflicting accounts of the alleged rape.

In affidavits filed by police, authorities said the accuser told police she was raped by three men at the March 13 team party where she was hired to perform as an exotic dancer with a second woman. District Attorney Mike Nifong won indictments against three players and has said they were the only ones implicated by the evidence.

After the exchange, Wilson told Eyewitness News that he personally read all 1814 pages of discovery documents and has not read that the alleged victim changed her version of the story.

Friday morning, Cheshire, who represents charged player David Evans, provided proof. He sent Wilson a report written by Durham Police officer, G.D. Sutton, stating that the alleged victim first mentioned "20 guys at a bachelor party" and then says that she was "assaulted by five guys."

The report also states that "Nikki" who we now know is Kim Roberts, tried to convince the alleged victim to have sex.

The report also states that there were four dancers at the party, not two.

A judge reduced the bond of a Duke University lacrosse player charged with rape to $100,000 at the Thursday hearing, and the prosecutor said he had turned over hundreds of additional pages of evidence to defense lawyers.

The family of sophomore lacrosse player Reade Seligmann, 20, of Essex Fells, N.J., had posted a $400,000 bond after their son was charged in April with rape, kidnapping and sexual offense.

The two other players facing the same charges -- Collin Finnerty, 19, of Garden City, N.Y., and David Evans, 23, of Bethesda, Md. -- remain free on $400,000 bond. None of the players were in court Thursday. Judge Ronald L. Stephens set their next appearance for the week of July 17.

A trial isn't expected to begin before spring 2007 in the case

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