Lawyers for Duke University lacrosse players accused of raping a stripper last month said this afternoon that DNA evidence proved their clients had not sexually assaulted the woman, who had been hired for a team party, the Associated Press is reporting. The woman, a student at North Carolina Central University, has said the players raped, beat, and choked her (The Chronicle, March 27). Subsequently the team’s coach resigned and its season was canceled (The Chronicle, April 6).
The district attorney, who initially said he was sure a crime had been committed, has not yet responded to the DNA evidence. A Duke official said this evening that “we have to have confidence that the police investigation will ultimately reveal the truth. While the allegations in this case are extremely serious, it is important to remember that no one has been charged and that in our system of law people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
A more-complete report on this developing story will be posted tomorrow on this Web site.
