Devastating testimony against Nifong by accused player

Durham-in-Wonderland:

...

Q: Were you reluctant to give DNA?
A: No--was told that this would be the best way to prove innocence.

As he was leaving the police station following his giving of DNA, Gottlieb told him that the police would take care of everything, and clear the case up; that everything would be just fine. "Don't you worry."

After story broke with Nifong's statements, statements "turned our world upside down." Affected how professors viewed the players.

...

Was taking an African-American history class (taught by Group of 88 member Raymond Gavins)--his study partner drops him, publishes a piece in the Chronicle comparing the Duke lacrosse team to the Jim Crow south.

Notes effect of Nifong's false claim of wall of silence by students.

Everyone on team assumed that it was going to be the three guys who lived in the house--"never thought in a million years that I would ever be a suspect."

His father is there; he sat to the ground, and said his life is over. Got up; he and his father were hugging each other. First thing he thought about was how he was going to tell his mother.

[People in the courtroom are audibly crying as they are listening to this testimony.]

[This is extremely powerful testimony; the three panelists are watching intently.]

Learned that he would be indicted on his mother's birthday.

In the room as Julian Mack--his then-attorney--learns of the indictments over the phone. "Room felt like it was spinning."

His father said they needed to work immediately to put together alibi information: hadn't even remotely thought he would be picked, so had no alibi information. Called Father Luke Travers, Delbarton headmaster, told him that he would have to be by his side when he called her to tell her. (Kathy Seligmann had been at one of his brothers' lacrosse games.)

Could hear her at the other end of the phone--"the life was sucked right out of her." He tried to calm her down; told her that they could prove that it didn't happen.

Learned that Nifong wanted to come to class and arrest them; told that if it got out to the press, that Nifong would revoke privilege of Collin and him turning themselves in.

Had to tell his girlfriend; she collapsed; had to carry her to his father's car to go to hotel and turn themselves in.

Made bond by borrowing money from friend--after indictments, his family has to leave the house because of media presence.

Remembers Osborn efforts to construct alibi--Wachovia ATM evidence; clearly relevant to Nifong's case, "didn't understand" Nifong's refusal to look, felt "helpless"; wasn't even angry, just baffled.

...

"When we came out of the parking garage, swarm of media came sprinting over."

Then encountered reps of New Black Panthers--dressed in fatigues. Planned on keeping his head up, didn't want to put head down. But could barely walk because the news media was so close in front of him, worried about stepping on them. Couldn't even see his father; then encounters NBPP, started screaming, it appeared, from all different angles. Kept saying, "Justice will be done, rapist."; "You're going to get yours, rapist." Trying to keep straight face--but was "terrified." Had never been in a situation like that before in his life.

Once he enters courtroom, had expected things to quiet down; but people speaking obscenities to him, someone says "Dead Man Walking" to him. Nifong was standing at his table, shuffling his papers, and did nothing.

One thing he remembers from hearing is that Nifong was laughing and smirking as Kirk Osborn presented alibi evidence.

...

There is much more. Click on the blog title to see the other testimony summaries. The mistreatment of these defendants is a black mark not just on Nifong but on the faculty and others at Duke who wanted to believe the lie rather than the evidence. From the Gang of 88 to the New Black Panthers the ugly lynch mob mentality was displayed. Many in the media including the NY Times should share the shame that this disgraceful episode demonstrated.

Update: Fox News reports that Nifong resigned while he was on the witness stand today. He also apologized to the families of the accused players.