6 • APRIL 13, 2007 NEWS THE TULANE HULLABALOO All charges against Duke lacrosse players dropped

care in the world about justice, but was often held up as a symbol of Anne Blythe only himself and his personal agen- out-of-control privileged college MCJ da." athletes. It wac; hours after a March 13, As details emerged about prob- RALEIGH, N.C. Three former 2006, spring break party that Crys- lems with the accuser's story and Duke lacrosse players are innocent tal Gail Mangum. an escort service flaws in the investigation, the case of the charges they've battled for a dancer, reported being gang-raped evolved into a symbol of a prosecu- year, the state attorney general said at the home three lacrosse team tor run amok and a justice system Wednesday, but Durham DistrictAt- captains shared at 610 N. Buchanan gone awry. torney is guilty of "a Blvd. in Durham, across the street "In this case, with the weight of rush to accuse." from Duke's East Campus. the justice system behind him, the As state Attorney General Roy Iler story changed with every Durham district attorney pushed Cooper dismissed and telling, even during several inter- ahead unchecked," Cooper said. charges against Dave views with Jim Coman and Mary "There were many points in the case Evans, 24, Reade Seligmann, 21, Winstead. the special prosecutors where caution would have served and Collin Finnerty, 20, on Wednes- whom Cooper assigned to the case justice better than bravado." day, he sharply criticized Nifong's in mid-January. Nifong, in Winston-Salem on handling of a case that put the ac- "We approached this case with Wednesday with lawyers represent- cused men, Durham and Duke Uni- the understanding that and sex- ing him in his fight to save his law versity under a harsh spotlight. ual assault victims often have some license, could not be reached for "We believe that these cases were inconsistencies in their accounts of comment. the tragic result of a rush to accuse a traumatic event," Cooper said. The State Bar, in an unprecedent- and a failure to verify serious allega- "However, in this case, the incon- ed move, forced Nifong off the case tions," Cooper said. "Based on the sistencies were so significant and when it filed ethical and professional significant inconsistencies between so contrary to the evidence that we misconduct charges against him in the evidence and the various ac- have no credible evidence that an December. Nifong ceded control of counts given by the accusing wit- attack occurred in that house that the case to Cooper's office in Janu- ness, we believe these three individ- night." ary. CHlCK LIDDY/RALEIGH:'>'£'\\ S & ｏ ｂ ｓ ｅ ｒ ｈ Ｚ ｊ ｕ ｾ ｉ ｃ ｔ uals are innocent of these charges." Cooper said his office did not David Freedman, one of the law- Former Duke lacrosse player Dave Evans (at right) speaks with new Blue Devil lacrosse coach John Cooper's declaration that the plan to pursue charges against Man- yers representing Nifong, said dis- Danowski (at left) and Sue Pressler, wife of former Duke coach Mike Pressler, after a press conference three were innocent, a word attor- gum. missal of the cases would not affect on Wednesday, April 11 in Raleigh, N.C. neys general rarely use, brought a Medical records. under seal, pro- how they attack the bar charges. long-awaited freedom for the men vided prosecutors insight into the ''He turned the case over to the for the state's three-year-old law re- At least to some degree this helps people,' as the mother of one of the who have lived the past year under accuser. The prosecutors who talked attorney general's office having total quiring prosecutors to turn over all the state to overcome the damage defendants said. If that's the mes- the threat of decades in prison for with Mangum over the past three respect and trust in their judgment," evidence to the accused. problems that Nifong did. At Duke, I think the sage, what does that say about our crimes they did not commit. months think that she might believe Freedman said. "With the prosecution might not have damage to the university may be in criminal justice system?" The exonerated players spoke at the many different versions of her The findings of the special pros- come to light. the beliefthat Duke students can get Cooney, Seligmann's lawyer. a news conference at the Sheraton night, Cooper said. ecutors' 12-week investigation will The lawyers and exonerated play- framed by either vindictive prosecu- called it "a bittersweet day." hotel in downtown Raleigh punctu- Mangum could not be reached be available early next week, Cooper ers talked about others who are put tors or vindictive police. "We're all delighted the justice ated by applause from supporters. for comment, but Mark Simeon. a said. He would not comment about behind bars on cases \.\

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