Duke Lacrosse

RALEIGH, N.C. — Three former Duke lacrosse players falsely accused of rape five years ago can pursue a lawsuit against the former county prosecutor and police investigators who handled their case, a federal judge in North Carolina ruled yesterday. US District Judge James Beaty said in his decision that the players can pursue claims such as malicious prosecution, concealment of evidence, and fabrication of false evidence. He dismissed several other accusations, such as intentional infliction of emotional distress.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The woman who falsely accused three Duke lacrosse players of raping her in 2006 was charged yesterday with murder in the death of her boyfriend. Crystal Mangum, 32, was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder and two counts of larceny. She has been in jail since April 3, when police charged her with assault in the stabbing of 46-year-old Reginald Daye. He died after nearly two weeks at a hospital. A lawyer for Mangum and officials in the district attorney’s office did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

DURHAM, N.C. -- A season lost. Three players indicted for rape. Nearly a year of criticism for everyone associated with Duke lacrosse. On this day, for a few hours, it didn't seem to matter as much. Playing their first game in 11 months, the Blue Devils opened the season yesterday with a 17-11 victory over Dartmouth in front of a big crowd cheering their every move. It was a triumphant return for the Blue Devils, whose season was canceled last spring amid the rape allegations that touched off a debate on sports, race, class, and privilege at the elite university.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The label “discredited Duke lacrosse accuser’’ has been attached to Crystal Mangum for nearly four years since North Carolina’s top prosecutor determined she had falsely accused three players of raping her at a party. When the accusations unraveled, it marked the beginning of her slide into erratic and violent behavior. Now, a boyfriend she’s accused of stabbing has died — plunging her story to a new low. Mangum has been jailed on an assault charge since the April 3 argument that ended with the stabbing of Reginald Daye, but police say the man’s death on Wednesday...

DURHAM, N.C. - The woman whom prosecutors determined falsely accused three Duke lacrosse players of rape maintains in a new memoir that she was attacked, which provoked an angry lawsuit threat from one player's family. Crystal Mangum, who appeared publicly yesterday for the first time since making the allegations more than two years ago, says in her book being made available online today that she is not "looking forward to opening old wounds," but that she had to defend herself.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Kirk Osborn, a lead defense attorney in the Duke lacrosse sexual assault case, died yesterday after suffering a heart attack on Friday. He was 64. Mr. Osborn represented Reade Seligmann of Essex Fells, N.J., , one of three Duke lacrosse players charged in the case stemming from a dancer's allegation she was sexually assaulted at a team party. The players were originally indicted on charges of rape, sexual offense, and kidnapping, but Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong dropped the rape charges in December after the...

RALEIGH, N.C. — The woman who falsely accused three Duke lacrosse players of raping her in 2006 was charged yesterday with murder in the death of her boyfriend. Crystal Mangum, 32, was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder and two counts of larceny. She has been in jail since April 3, when police charged her with assault in the stabbing of 46-year-old Reginald Daye. He died after nearly two weeks at a hospital. A lawyer for Mangum and officials in the district attorney’s office did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

DURHAM, N.C. -- Police tried to interview Duke University lacrosse players at their dorm rooms about the team party where a woman reported being raped, but the athletes refused to speak with investigators, an attorney for several players said yesterday. The school confirmed that two Durham detectives were on campus Thursday night for an hour and 15 minutes, but said they did not execute any search warrants. The school's statement corrected comments made earlier yesterday by Duke's president, Richard Brodhead, who told reporters police attempted to enter the rooms, but...

DURHAM, N.C. - In perhaps his lowest point in the Duke lacrosse debacle, former prosecutor Mike Nifong walked into jail to serve a 24-hour contempt sentence yesterday, soon after it was revealed that the three players he falsely accused of rape are seeking $30 million from the city. Nifong arrived about 20 minutes before his 9 a.m. deadline to report to jail, surrounded by about 20 supporters and family members. They formed a protective cluster to walk Nifong into the building, with supporters at the front carrying signs that read, "We believe in your...

RALEIGH, N.C. — The label “discredited Duke lacrosse accuser’’ has been attached to Crystal Mangum for nearly four years since North Carolina’s top prosecutor determined she had falsely accused three players of raping her at a party. When the accusations unraveled, it marked the beginning of her slide into erratic and violent behavior. Now, a boyfriend she’s accused of stabbing has died — plunging her story to a new low. Mangum has been jailed on an assault charge since the April 3 argument that ended with the stabbing of Reginald Daye, but police say...

RALEIGH, N.C. — Three former Duke lacrosse players falsely accused of rape five years ago can pursue a lawsuit against the former county prosecutor and police investigators who handled their case, a federal judge in North Carolina ruled yesterday. US District Judge James Beaty said in his decision that the players can pursue claims such as malicious prosecution, concealment of evidence, and fabrication of false evidence. He dismissed several other accusations, such as intentional infliction of emotional distress.

DURHAM, N.C. - The woman whom prosecutors determined falsely accused three Duke lacrosse players of rape maintains in a new memoir that she was attacked, which provoked an angry lawsuit threat from one player's family. Crystal Mangum, who appeared publicly yesterday for the first time since making the allegations more than two years ago, says in her book being made available online today that she is not "looking forward to opening old wounds," but that she had to defend herself.

DURHAM, N.C. - In perhaps his lowest point in the Duke lacrosse debacle, former prosecutor Mike Nifong walked into jail to serve a 24-hour contempt sentence yesterday, soon after it was revealed that the three players he falsely accused of rape are seeking $30 million from the city. Nifong arrived about 20 minutes before his 9 a.m. deadline to report to jail, surrounded by about 20 supporters and family members. They formed a protective cluster to walk Nifong into the building, with supporters at the front carrying signs...

There were hugs, handshakes, and plenty of tears. The Duke lacrosse team had run through a myriad of emotions over the past 14 months, and now it was over. The Blue Devils had an almost unfathomable comeback fall short in a 12-11 loss to Johns Hopkins in the NCAA men's championship game yesterday in Baltimore, and afterward the locker room was eerily silent. "Right now I think everyone in here is thinking, 'Wow, we just lost the national championship.' In a couple of weeks, maybe we'll say, 'Look what we accomplished,' " goaltender Dan Loftus said.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Kirk Osborn, a lead defense attorney in the Duke lacrosse sexual assault case, died yesterday after suffering a heart attack on Friday. He was 64. Mr. Osborn represented Reade Seligmann of Essex Fells, N.J., , one of three Duke lacrosse players charged in the case stemming from a dancer's allegation she was sexually assaulted at a team party. The players were originally indicted on charges of rape, sexual offense, and kidnapping, but Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong dropped the rape charges in December after the accuser changed a key detail in her...

DURHAM, N.C. -- A season lost. Three players indicted for rape. Nearly a year of criticism for everyone associated with Duke lacrosse. On this day, for a few hours, it didn't seem to matter as much. Playing their first game in 11 months, the Blue Devils opened the season yesterday with a 17-11 victory over Dartmouth in front of a big crowd cheering their every move. It was a triumphant return for the Blue Devils, whose season was canceled last spring amid the rape allegations that touched off a debate on sports, race, class, and privilege at the elite...

DURHAM, N.C. -- The prosecutor in the Duke lacrosse rape case has heard the criticism from specialists and armchair lawyers, and said yesterday that he is comfortable with nearly all the decisions he has made and feels confident about taking the case to trial. "I think that I have a responsibility to prosecute this case," District Attorney Mike Nifong said in an interview . "I think that really nothing about my view of the case and my view of how the case ultimately needs to be handled has been affected by any of the things that have occurred.

There were hugs, handshakes, and plenty of tears. The Duke lacrosse team had run through a myriad of emotions over the past 14 months, and now it was over. The Blue Devils had an almost unfathomable comeback fall short in a 12-11 loss to Johns Hopkins in the NCAA men's championship game yesterday in Baltimore, and afterward the locker room was eerily silent. "Right now I think everyone in here is thinking, 'Wow, we just lost the national championship.' In a couple of weeks, maybe we'll say, 'Look what we accomplished,' " goaltender Dan Loftus said.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Facing ethics charges that could lead to his disbarment, the embattled district attorney in the Duke lacrosse sexual assault case asked the state attorney general yesterday to appoint a special prosecutor to take over the case. Noelle Talley, a spokeswoman for the attorney general, said District Attorney Mike Nifong made the request in a letter. Nifong's lawyer said that the veteran prosecutor was not running from a weak case and that Nifong is disappointed he will not be able to take it to trial.

DURHAM, N.C. -- The prosecutor in the Duke lacrosse rape case has heard the criticism from specialists and armchair lawyers, and said yesterday that he is comfortable with nearly all the decisions he has made and feels confident about taking the case to trial. "I think that I have a responsibility to prosecute this case," District Attorney Mike Nifong said in an interview . "I think that really nothing about my view of the case and my view of how the case ultimately needs to be handled has been affected by any of the things that have occurred.