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*Just last week defense attorneys for the Duke University Lacrosse team were almost giddy with confidence that their clients would not be charged in the rape of an African American stripper. They were reacting to results of DNA tests that failed to connect any of the 46 team members tested to the alleged victim. But Monday, the worm turned when a grand jury issued sealed indictments against two unnamed members of the team.
“Today, two young men have been charged with crimes they did not commit,” attorney Robert Ekstrand, attorney for the players, said in a statement on Monday. “This is a tragedy. For the two young men, an ordeal lies ahead. ... They are both innocent.”
But now, two 20-year-old Duke University lacrosse players have been arrested. Reade Seligmann posted a $400,000 bond and Collin Finnerty was in the process of doing so for the same amount, said Col. George Naylor of the Durham County jail. By posting bond, the players avoided making an initial court appearance later in the day. Earlier, Seligmann, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Essex Fells, N.J., and Finnerty, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Garden City, N.Y., were led out of separate police cruisers in handcuffs. One was wearing a suit jacket, the other was in dress shirt and jeans. Seligmann is "absolutely innocent," said his attorney, Kirk Osborn. "He's doing great. That's all I have to say."
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Collin Finnerty & Reade Seligmann were named in rape indictment
A 27-year-old black woman told police she was attacked March 13 by three white men in a bathroom at a party held by the lacrosse team.
As far as the DNA tests being negative, Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong has reiterated that 75 percent to 80 percent of rape prosecutions lack DNA evidence. Additionally, a medical examination of the woman found injuries consistent with rape, according to court records.
ABC News is reporting that the exotic dancer has identified two players with 100 percent certainty and a third at 90 percent as having raped her at a party last month, citing what prosecutors told the players' attorneys.
In an interview with MSNBC's Rita Cosby on Monday, another dancer who accompanied the woman the night of the party said she, too, believed the allegations.
"I can't imagine that a woman would do that to herself if she didn't feel like it was worth doing it," said the second dancer, who wasn't identified. "And the only reason it would be worth doing it is if she was raped. So, I have no reason to believe she was lying."
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