60 Minutes Expose on Duke Case

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

I just watched it and I am hopping mad. I had only followed the scandal from a distance and didn't realize what a total debacle it has become. It seems pretty clear that the Prosecutor needed to indict somebody, anybody, to save face, and employed every dirty prosecutor trick in the book to do so. I initially had a lot of sympathy for the victim because of the race and class issues involved, but now it seems pretty clear that a horrible injustice is taking place.

[demosincebirth]

1. Its been a farse from the very beginnig. The prosecutor...

has been pandering to the black voters in that area. This guy (prosecutor) should be brought up on charges after this case is thrown out.

[Solo_in_MD]

2. There have also been some print media articles recently on this as well

While I can't say if the there was indeed a rape, its clear that the prosecutor through reason and the rules out the window. No DNA matches and at least one of the indicted has a damn solid alibi.

One of the print articles focused on how the photo lineup was a sham, citing heavily the person that developed procedures for it and got it allowed by the courts.

I hope there is justice for all involved in the end...but the prosecutor's conduct needs a serious outside review.

[Bigmack]

3. How come nobody...

here (or even in Freepville) is talking about the guy who was exposing the WH mockery of the fundies.

I think that's an even bigger story.

Of course, none of the fundies will watch.... or listen... to anything that exposes Dumbya.

[rpannier]

6. Prosecutoral misconduct goes on all the time

Look at the number of people who have been freed over the past half-dozen years when the cases were revisited.
Like it or not, this is an important case because it spotlights the extremes prosecutors will go to get a conviction and how the Courts, and too often public opinion, enable and encourage them to do so.

[aquart]

7. Got it out of our systems earlier this week.

At this point, it's old news to us.

[Hepburn]

4. I watched this segment of 60 Minutes, too.

And was totally pissed off at the PA. What a total farce, fraud, waste of time and sooooooooo totally damaging to the 3 students who were charged. This is a total crock ~~ and if anyone is guilty of a crime, it sure are these two:

1. The PA for filing and pushing this case; and

2. The alleged victim for filing a false police report.

The criminal justice system is waaaaaaay too over crowed as it is ~~ shit like this farce does not need to take the place of some crime that really needs to be charged and tried.

And, IMO, that PA should be disciplined by his State Bar for the crap he did ~~ particularly the photo-line up. That is soooooo out of line, I could have spit nails when I saw it.

[sce56]

5. I liked the Kuo one and especialy liked what Andy Rooney had to say

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2886194&mesg_id=2886194

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

8. I saw this happen to someone,

Someone who went to my high school faced a bullshit rape accusation from a woman who was known to be straight up insane when he was in college - even the girls parents tried to stop the farce. Unfortunately it was a college town and going after rowdy students was always popular among the townies. A rabid prosecutor took up the case and refused to let go.

The charges were thrown out - but a google of his name and the name of the town brings up several hits on the subject and that is as good as a conviction because what is on google doesn't actually show that the charges were dropped.

[Totallybushed]

9. The victim?

Or the perp? And what will happen to her? Does she get the jail time she deserves?

[NaturalHigh]

13. No way this accuser is going to jail.

Nifong was re-elected because of her. He pandered to the Durham black community by railroading these three guys. The only possible justice will be in the civil courts.

[Totallybushed]

14. Yes, that's

a damn shame. There's absolutely no justification for rape under any circumstances, but a false accusation of rape is just as bad, and as capable of ruining lives.

I hope she rots in Hell, if the accusation is false.

[NaturalHigh]

17. I don't wish hell on anybody...

but this woman definitely deserves some serious jail time. It's a shame she won't get any.

[Totallybushed]

18. You're just not

taking it seriously enough. }(

[kerry-is-my-prez]

10. The same thing happens over and over again to "poor" blacks & whites

There are mutitudes of people who have beeen railroaded by prosecutors for different types of crimes - especially in Texas - for various reasons.

What makes this so unusual is that it happened to some rich white guys. Hopefully, this will help shine a light on this problem.

However, I'm very leery of declaring someone innocent or guilty without seeing the evidence.

I watched it and the woman exhibited signs of being untruthful - but it could just be the way she communicates.

I worry that thise woman could have been slipped some money so I'm a little suspicious about this whole thing.

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. I thought she was remarkably credible

(This is the other stripper - not the alleged rape victim). If she was paid to act, then someone is getting their money's worth - she's good.

[Totallybushed]

15. To my way of thinking,

the case has been so mishandled that "reasonable doubt" can never disappear for any honest juror. So, by definition, they will be innocent.

Besides, I hate to pre-judge, too, but the woman has changed her story too many times. She IS lying. And attempting to appeal to racist prejudice.

[NaturalHigh]

12. In my opinion...

this case has been a railroad job from the very beginning. Of course, that opinion has been met with great hostility from certain quarters.

I truly hope that when these guys are acquitted they sue the hell out of the DA and the accuser in this case. Her name should be dragged through the shit just like their's have been.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

16. Electing prosecutors is a bad idea.

Here in the UK, prosecutors, judges and the like are civil servants, meaning that they only have to worry about the law, not about what will be popular. I think this is clearly better than the American system.

Those who make the law should be answerable to the public. Those who enforce the law should be answerable only to the law.

[AngryAmish]

19. But who hires the judges, prosecutor, etc.?

The way it works here the head of all the prosecutors (the State's Attorney or District Attorney) is elected but the majority of the real prosecutors are civil servants. At least where I live there is no test or anything but an interview process.

I would not like a system where the prosecutor is unanswerable to the voters. They would be free to bring phony cases against their rivals all the time. And nothing could be done against them. Remember, we do not live in a theocracy here in the states and we can't have a monarch and/or the head of the state religion remove an officer at will unlike your system.