All charges dropped in Duke sexual assault case

The North Carolina attorney general announced Wednesday all charges in the Duke rape scandal have been dropped against the accused lacrosse players. Attorney General Roy Cooper said his investigation

News 12 Staff

Apr 12, 2007, 2:34 AM

Updated 6,448 days ago

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The North Carolina attorney general announced Wednesday all charges in the Duke rape scandal have been dropped against the accused lacrosse players.
Attorney General Roy Cooper said his investigation found that not only was the evidence insufficient, but that no attack ever took place at all. "We believe that these cases were the result of a tragic rush toaccuse and a failure to verify serious allegations," said Cooper.
The lacrosse players, Chaminade High School alumni Colin Finnerty, Reade Seligmann, of Essex Fells, NJ, and David Evans, of Bethesda, MD, were arrested last April and charged with rape, kidnapping and sexual assault for allegedly raping a stripper during a house party.
In December, the case fell apart when none of the accused players? DNA matched the rape victim. The alleged victim also changed her story. The rape charges were then dropped but the other charges stayed.
Meanwhile, the original district attorney on the case in North Carolina has been charged with ethics violations for withholding the DNA information.
Finnerty is now a volunteer assistant coach at Chaminade High School.
Click here to see video of NC Attorney General Roy Cooper's statement
Click here to see video of Duke players responding to dropped charges
Click here to see text of NC Attorney General Roy Cooper's statement
To also view the comments from the accused players, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO extra.
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