(One of a series of posts in the original web log tradition: notes and "thinking out loud." These posts will be most easily understood by regular visitors and are written with them especially in mind. But others are welcome.)
Hard to believe almost 2 weeks have gone by since the last Talking with ...
Regarding the CrimeStoppers' flyers/posters and the "vigilante poster" and the action by attorney Charns on behalf of an unindicted lacrosse players, I'll post tonight or tomorrow on an interview I had with Major Lee Russ of the Durham Police Department.
Main points of the interview: Yes, it was Cpl. Addison who put out a CrimeStoppers flyer with text as you've read here. According to Russ, text was amended a number of times at his direction. Russ sent me copies. I'll share with you. The DPD never had anything to do with the "vigilante poster" containing face-photos of 43 Duke lacrosse players. DPD doesn't know who circulated them but DPD would be interested to know who did. No investigation will be launched by DPD concerning flyers. Of course, that may not be the last word.
Will Charns press his action? I'm betting he will.
No, I haven't been over to the Editor's Blog. But I hope to be back there soon.
Meanwhile, I'm posting with questions I'm asking about N&O Duke lacrosse coverage. Yesterday's "Duke lacrosse: look at the first newspaper report" is an example.
I plan to have another one up tomorrow looking at the second N&O story on Mar. 25 which really kicked off the Duke lacrosse hysteria and witch hunt.
You know I said last week a write in campaign for Durham DA was needed. Lewis Cheek? I like him. More about that later this week.
I wish at least one of the law professors in NC was blogging regularly on the Dlc. I plan to contact a few to see if they will. I'll let you know what they say.
Has anyone obtained a copy of Professor Coleman's statement saying Nifong should be replaced on the Dlc? If yes, can you get a copy to me.
I could contact Coleman but if someone already has it .....
Coleman's statement deserves much more attention from MSM than it's getting.
Imagine a professor of surgery at a leading medical school publicly saying a nationally known surgeon shouldn't perform operations on three famous patients, and asking that the surgeon take steps to have her or himself replaced. It would be huge, wouldn't it?
If you see or hear anything from the net or cables please let me know. I'm going to post on Coleman's statement very soon.
I continue to think a lot of the best material at JinC is on the comment threads.
Thanks to all of you who are linking my posts at other sites.
One fun reaction to that. One of you linked at Court TV my post saying I had a lot of respect for Judge Stephens who's presided at, I believe, all the Duke lacrosse court proceedings.
Well, a lot of folks at Court TV have other views. It's been interesting to read their comments about me, my post and Stephens.
Some have been very critical of what I said but it's been civil. Others jump in and say something nice about me.
All in a days blogging.
John
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Talking with JinC regulars – 6 -13- 06
Posted by JWM at 5:27 PM
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2 comments:
John, I've written a tongue-in-cheek letter to the Judge...helped release a little of my frustration...didn't send, of course. Hope you don't find it inappropriate. If so, delete. Ms. Sill has made me become quite oblivious to deletion.
Dear Judge Stephens, It’s time for an intervention. Sure it’s hard to confront a friend, but your old buddy from the D.A.’s office, Mike Nifong, is headed right to the precipice and you’re the only guy that can bring him back. Judge, friends don’t let friends railroad innocent people…even obnoxious college kids who have a history of serial public urination. It’s time for a sit down
. Remember all the stuff Mike told you when YOU, Judge Stephens, ordered all those DNA tests. Thirty-minute beating, injuries consistent with vaginal and anal forcible rape. Gosh, if the stuff America’s reading online is true, Mike put one over on you there. The guy had nothing, right? A couple scratches, a couple different stories, no collaboration from Kim…medical report consistent more with one vibrator, than three violators. Two sets of tests later and what does Mike have, part 2 ? A partial match on TOP of a fake nail in a guy’s trash can. Not good, Judge, not good. . And didn’t I read that last set of tests alone cost Durham taxpayers $23,000?! Guess in that way, everyone in Durham contributed to Mike’s political campaign, huh? I hope there are no unsolved murders or unfunded school programs in Durham, Judge, because you and Mike are sure fast and loose with that taxpayer cash.
Oh, Judge, speaking of that nail, if he’s your friend…give him some advice in regard to the female jurors. Under no circumstances should he try to demonstrate how an “escort” fights for her virtue using just the top of one nail. Though in fairness, I must say that I saw him do the “choking move” on TV and that was pretty smooth. Except, now we learn that nobody had on long shirts and that silly accuser apparently said ( in one of her many mixed-up versions of events) that the choking never happened. Better to avoid the demonstrations altogether.
Speaking of “mixed-up versions”, I saw the City Manager on TV too. He was talking about that first Duke report… the one saying that….from the start, the accuser gave police a couple different versions of her story. He sure was mad. Basically he said that report was a “crock.” Okay, maybe he didn’t say “crock.” Oh, I think that was Kim (the other dancer) that said the ACCUSER’S story was a “crock”. But when Nifong gave her a sweet deal on the embezzlement stuff, she recanted on the “crock “ comment, didn’t she? I think he had the two rape detectives pick up that poor taxi driver in hopes he could convert his story to a “crock” too. But he didn’t crack, did he? Anyway, now it seems the city manager is up a creek because he didn’t have HIS story straight either. What’s the deal in Durham? From my point of view, there’s a lot of crockpots promoting this case
All over America, folks feel they know your friend, Mike Nifong. We saw so much of him on TV in the early days. Seventy-something times, he told us the lacrosse players were gang-rapists and “hooligans” and we believed him. You could tell he liked the TV appearances. After the boys were convicted, I think he saw himself going on Oprah or being a regular on Nancy Grace. Pretty intoxicating stuff…. like the beer and tranquilizer mix the accuser had on the night of the party. But now, Judge, America’s feeling scammed. Honestly, if you don’t get him under control (or maybe under medication) this fiasco is going to start to reflect on you.
I think the way out for you, Judge, is the line-up. If Mike had to show the girl these pictures five or six times, Judge, that does not sound good. I mean, they had the Lacrosse shirts on and there were no wrong answers. How hard could it be?
People are starting to wonder about justice down there. It’s like some nightmare episode of a Mayberry-gone-amuck. After 23 years, Barney finally gets a crack at Andy’s job and he goes berserk trying to keep it. That poor dancer could have told 40 stories that night, but old Nifong was going to run with the one he needed. It was TV stardom vs. the traffic court. And I don’t think that Freda would have kept him around if she won. But, Judge, indicting three young men without evidence , sacrificing them and their families, is a pretty scary campaign strategy.
But you have to hand it to him, it worked and he sure seemed pretty pleased with himself. An accuser with as many “stories” as motel appointments….that’s all your friend Mike had. But he rode that pony to victory all right. But, Judge, do you want to spend the next few years wondering… what’s Mike’s campaign strategy for next time? Will you start worrying that those odd little laughs are directed at you? Or start wondering …. when the FBI might sweep down on him and his cronies like Hells Angels on a freeway? Like I said, it’s time for a sit down.
Think of your own future. By the time the civil attorneys get through with Durham, Judge, you’ll be holding court in a pup- tent. It’s time for you to put friendship aside, dismiss the charges and give this story a happy ending. Judge Stephens, do the right thing: Save Durham…indict Nifong.
joan foster, I love you.
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