DA in duke case Vowes to Keep Investigating

[iluvurmom]

I have very missed feelings on this but I am pleased to see that the DA is promising to continue to investigate. Although the DNA evidence has come back negaitve so far- I thik there is alot of circumstancial evidence surrounding the case that at least deserves a continued investigation. Whta does everyone else think about this??

more info (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191315,00.html)

[Contrapuntal]

He's had a month and he is still trying to determine exactly what the evidence is that we have to proceed on and to assemble that evidence before anyone is charged," Nifong continued. "I assure you by my presence here, this case is not over."What is he waiting for? Why is he speaking to 700 people at the university attended by the complainant? Why is he commenting at all about a case in which no one has been charged with any crime?

All "not over" means is that he hopes he can drag it out long enough for his election campaign to be over, in my opinion.

[madmonk28]

One reason he might be speaking to the group is because the defense attorneys held a press conference and pretty much declared the case closed.

Also, it is not uncommon for the authorities to address a community where a crime has occurred to reassure the community. When there is a particularly troubling crime in my part of DC, the police will hold a meeting at a community center, church or library to assure the public that they are on the job.

Also, because of the comments by the defense team, the DA might want to counter any affect their statements might have had to the jury pool.

[Contrapuntal]

One reason he might be speaking to the group is because the defense attorneys held a press conference and pretty much declared the case closed. The DA has been speaking to the press from day one. The "defense" attorneys (no one has been charged with anything, despite the fact that the DA has publically declared the students to be guilty) are fighting fire with fire.

Also, it is not uncommon for the authorities to address a community where a crime has occurred to reassure the community. When there is a particularly troubling crime in my part of DC, the police will hold a meeting at a community center, church or library to assure the public that they are on the job.The police. Not the DA. The DA has no business commenting on a case when no charges have been filed, at the site of numerous rallies against the (non) defendants.
Also, because of the comments by the defense team, the DA might want to counter any affect their statements might have had to the jury pool.It is the DA who has tainted the jury pool. Check out this thread (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=366822&page=1&pp=50) for more information.

[athelas]

Another reason might be that he is up for election in a month in a predominantly black area. From http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12115147/site/newsweek/

Joseph Cheshire, a lawyer representing one of the players, says that the prosecutor has unfairly tried the players in the media to serve his own political agenda. (Nifong is up for re-election in May and one of his opponents is black.) "The real story," says Cheshire, "is how he has pandered to the public to stir up race and class division." Nifong did not respond to repeated requests for comment on Cheshire's charge.

[kelly5078]

Many (not all) prosecutors want notches on their belt. They are not interested in justice, they are interested in winning. I think we have this type of guy here. Having blown the whole thing, and having done it in an obscenely public manner, he is trying to salvage something that he can go ahead with.

I think it not unlikely that something nasty did happen. The chances of getting to what that might have been are, by now, remote.

[Marley23]

I don't think it's really surprising that he won't drop the case immediately. If nothing else, it would be embarassing for him.

But, like I posted in the other thread, I'm getting more and more annoyed with the way he's handling the case. This case was going to stir up tensions in Durham anyway, and I think he's made it worse. Perhaps it's par for the course for a district attoney in an election year, but it strikes me as lousy behavior.