Nader Baydoun - A Rush to Injustice. How Power, Prejudice, Racism, and Political Correctness Overshadowed Truth and...

A RUSH

TO
INJUSTICE

HOW POWER, PREJUDICE, RACISM, AND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
OVERSHADOWED TRUTH AND JUSTICE IN THE
DUKE LACROSSE RAPE CASE

A RUSH
TO
INJUSTICE

HOW POWER, PREJUDICE, RACISM, AND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
OVERSHADOWED TRUTH AND JUSTICE IN THE
DUKE LACROSSE RAPE CASE

NADER BAYDOUN
AND
R. STEPHANIE GOOD

2007 by Nader Baydoun

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data
on file with the Library of Congress.

ISBN 10: 1-59555-118-2
ISBN 13: 978-1-59555-118-4

Printed in the United States of America

07 08 09 10 11 QW 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS

This book is dedicated to David Evans, Collin Finnerty, Reade Seligmann, all of the members of the Duke University Mens Lacrosse Team, and their families, all of whom have suffered so much at the hands of those who lost sight of the true meaning of justice, honesty, and human decency. I hope that this book portrays their story accurately and fairly and that it helps to exonerate the three young men who were wrongfully accused, and to obliterate any notions of guilt of any member of the Duke University Mens Lacrosse Team. May these young men and their families be able to walk through the rest of their lives knowing that the outrageous lies that have been perpetrated against them have been exposed, that they have now finally been completely exonerated by the legal system, and that the truth will be known by anyone who is fair-minded enough to simply look at the facts that have been presented herein.

T here are numerous people to thank for helping to make this book possible, all of whom have my sincerest and deepest gratitude.

I would like to begin by thanking my wonderful wife, Barbara, for her constant love, encouragement, and support, and for allowing me to take the time to bring this important story to the forefront in order to expose a terrible injustice while presenting the truth.

I would like to thank my friend, R. Stephanie Good, whose excellent research and writing skills and experience were invaluable in helping me put this book together.

I would also like to thank my good friend, Durham attorney Wes Covington,who was the first person to help put the facts and the parties involved with the lacrosse case into the proper perspective for me, and for directing me to other valuable sources of information to uncover the truth.

I am especially grateful to Durham attorney, Bob Ekstrand, and his paralegal, Stefanie Sparks,whose dedication to seeking justice for Evans, Finnerty, and Seligmann and their teammates contributed so much to their defense as well as to this book. Their tireless efforts in assisting us by providing us with valuable information and leads for sources of information were crucial to compiling the facts for this book. I am very thankful to both of them for their gracious contributions to this project.

I also extend my appreciation to Durham attorney, Bill Thomas, for taking the time to meet with us and offer so much valuable information for this book.

I would like to thank Durham attorney Eddie Falcone for taking the time to meet with me and provide me with information for this book.

I would also like to thank and acknowledge Duke Law School Professors James E. Coleman, Jr. and Paul Haagan, and Duke Chemistry Professor Dr. Steven Baldwin for taking the time to meet with us, and especially for having the courage to speak out on behalf of the lacrosse team and for contributing so much essential information to this book.

A heartfelt thank you to Reade Seligmanns attorney, the late J. Kirk Osborn, whose insight in allowing his defense motions to be published on the Internet for all to see helped to open the eyes of so many. Having access to these well-written motions enabled us to include an abundance of essential and informative material in this book.

I also want to give warm and special thanks to my close friend and agent, Robert Wolgemuth, whose counsel, friendship, and support have been invaluable to me.

A special thank you to the wonderful people at Thomas Nelson Publishing, especially David Dunham and Joel Miller, for allowing me the opportunity to tell this important story, and to my editor, Alice Sullivan, for working so hard to make this book a reality.

I want to thank my good friend and fellow Dukie, Larry Satch Saunders, for allowing me to share my thoughts and ideas with him while compiling this book.

To the Duke University students who came forward to offer their opinions and information, I thank you. May you never experience the injustice that has been inflicted upon your classmates.

May God bless and keep each and every one of you.

1
THE
BEGINNING

B y now you probably know the truth: First, a stripper who was hired to dance at a party thrown by members of the Duke University lacrosse team claimed that she was brutally gang raped, sodomized, and beaten. Then the situation took on a life of its own and spun out of control. The horrific allegations of gang rape became entwined with the outrageous lies of a rogue prosecutor who took down everyone around him, including several individuals, a university, a town, and ultimately, himself.

It began on Monday night, March 13, 2006, when about forty young men were crammed into a tiny rented house at 610 North Buchanan Boulevard. Mostly members of the Duke University lacrosse team, they could not participate in the usual spring break festivities because of conflicts with their practice schedule. They had to celebrate by other means. A blowout party had become something of a tradition. But this year, the entertainment would leave team members with a night they would never forget.

The first stripper, a thirty-one-year-old African American woman named Kim Pittman, a.k.a. Kim Roberts, showed up at about 11:15 that night. Roughly half an hour later, the second stripper, twenty-seven-year-old Crystal Gail Mangum, an African American mother of two, was dropped off by her boyfriend. According to Mangums handwritten statement, given to authorities more than three weeks later, when she arrived at the party Roberts was already in the backyard surrounded by about ten guys, and they were all holding drinks. According to Mangum, she and Roberts introduced themselves to each other and talked for about five minutes.They didnt know each other but were there for the same reasonfast cash for an easy gig.

With pleasantries exchanged, both women entered through the rear door of the house, accompanied by several of the partygoers. Roberts, who danced under the name Nikki, went to the bathroom and changed into her costume. Mangum, who used the name Precious, arrived dressed to dance but followed Nikki inside to continue talking.While Nikki prepared herself, one of the guys knocked on the door and offered them drinks. They accepted and kept talking, but as far as the boys were concerned, talking wasnt on the nights agenda. They grew impatient.