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http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20061215-0142-dukelacrosse.html
By David Scott
ashOCIATED PRESS
1:42 a.m. December 15, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. – As defense attorneys unleashed another attack on the credibility of the woman at the center of the Duke lacrosse rape case, word emerged that she is about to give birth.
News of the accuser's pregnancy comes roughly nine months after the team party where she says she was raped by three men in a bathroom.
The pregnancy was confirmed late Thursday by a person familiar with the case, speaking to The ashociated Press on the condition of anonymity. Fox News and WRAL-TV in Raleigh reported the woman gave birth Thursday night.
The development came just hours after defense attorneys filed a motion highlighting what they consider numerous holes in the accuser's story.
Among the details cited are examples of how her story changed in the hours and days after the party; that she has a history of bipolar disorder; and that she identified two people as having attended the party who were not there.
The motion also says the woman misidentified her alleged attackers in a photo lineup that was “an incoherent mash of contradiction and error.â€
Based in part on those identifications, Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and David Evans were indicted on charges of rape, kidnapping and sexual offense. All three players have insisted they are innocent.
Calls to their attorneys were not returned Thursday night. Neither were calls and messages left with District Attorney Mike Nifong.
The defense attorneys asked a judge to bar prosecutors from using the photo lineup at their clients' trial and prevent the accuser from identifying the players from the witness stand.
A hearing in the case was scheduled for Friday, but it is unclear whether the defense would argue its new motions. The hearing had been expected mostly to deal with scheduling.
There had been no prior indication the woman, a 28-year-old college student who already has children, was pregnant. She has not spoken in public since granting a single interview to the News & Observer of Raleigh shortly after the party.
The person who confirmed the pregnancy to the AP had no information about the father. Defense attorneys have stressed for months that no sex occurred at the party and they have cited DNA testing that found genetic material from several males in the accuser's body and her underwear – but none from any member of the lacrosse team.
The woman has said the three men gang-raped her in a bathroom at a March 13 team party where she had been hired to perform as a stripper.
Medical records included in the motion filed Thursday were not made public. It wasn't clear whether a pregnancy test was taken immediately after the party.
ashociated Press writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report from New York.
By David Scott
ashOCIATED PRESS
1:42 a.m. December 15, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. – As defense attorneys unleashed another attack on the credibility of the woman at the center of the Duke lacrosse rape case, word emerged that she is about to give birth.
News of the accuser's pregnancy comes roughly nine months after the team party where she says she was raped by three men in a bathroom.
The pregnancy was confirmed late Thursday by a person familiar with the case, speaking to The ashociated Press on the condition of anonymity. Fox News and WRAL-TV in Raleigh reported the woman gave birth Thursday night.
The development came just hours after defense attorneys filed a motion highlighting what they consider numerous holes in the accuser's story.
Among the details cited are examples of how her story changed in the hours and days after the party; that she has a history of bipolar disorder; and that she identified two people as having attended the party who were not there.
The motion also says the woman misidentified her alleged attackers in a photo lineup that was “an incoherent mash of contradiction and error.â€
Based in part on those identifications, Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and David Evans were indicted on charges of rape, kidnapping and sexual offense. All three players have insisted they are innocent.
Calls to their attorneys were not returned Thursday night. Neither were calls and messages left with District Attorney Mike Nifong.
The defense attorneys asked a judge to bar prosecutors from using the photo lineup at their clients' trial and prevent the accuser from identifying the players from the witness stand.
A hearing in the case was scheduled for Friday, but it is unclear whether the defense would argue its new motions. The hearing had been expected mostly to deal with scheduling.
There had been no prior indication the woman, a 28-year-old college student who already has children, was pregnant. She has not spoken in public since granting a single interview to the News & Observer of Raleigh shortly after the party.
The person who confirmed the pregnancy to the AP had no information about the father. Defense attorneys have stressed for months that no sex occurred at the party and they have cited DNA testing that found genetic material from several males in the accuser's body and her underwear – but none from any member of the lacrosse team.
The woman has said the three men gang-raped her in a bathroom at a March 13 team party where she had been hired to perform as a stripper.
Medical records included in the motion filed Thursday were not made public. It wasn't clear whether a pregnancy test was taken immediately after the party.
ashociated Press writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report from New York.
