Remember Mike Nifong?
Today the prosecutor in the Duke rape trial confessed “there is no credible evidence that Mr. Seligmann, Mr. Finnerty or Mr. Evans committed any of the crimes for which they were indicted.”
From Breitbart.com
“We all need to heal,” Nifong said. “It is my hope we can start this process today.”
Nifong’s apology came as a judge began considering whether to hold the former Durham County district attorney in criminal contempt of court for his handling of the case.
Superior Court Judge W. Osmond Smith III has already concluded there is probable cause to believe Nifong “willfully and intentionally made false statements of material fact” to the court during a hearing in the case last fall. If he finds Nifong in contempt after an Aug. 30 hearing, the now-disbarred former prosecutor could face up to 30 days in jail.
The case started with a woman’s allegations that she was raped at a March 2006 lacrosse team party where she was hired as a stripper. Nifong won indictments against three team members, but the charges were later dropped, and state Attorney General Roy Cooper went a step farther by declaring the three men innocent victims of Nifong’s “tragic rush to accuse.”
So the apology comes as Nifong is facing the music. He should serve time.
July 26th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
He should serve a Hell of a lot more than 30 days. He committed felonies, where are the charges on those.
July 26th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
He should serve a Hell of a lot more than 30 days. He committed felonies, where are the charges on those.
Considering his actions I am shocked at the gift the court is giving Nifong. If ever an example should be made Nifong should be that example.
July 26th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
“So the apology comes as Nifong is facing the music”
Yup, there’s nothing like looking jail time in the face to make someone contrite is there?
And I agree with straightarrow and #9, Nifong should get a LOT longer sentance than 30 days. How much time would WE, ordinary citizens, get if we did the same things Nifong did? A LOT more than 30 days.
July 26th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
All that is need is a group hug, some tears, and an apology. Then we can comment on Nifong’s “courage” for having come forward with the truth, and opn how devastating this has been to his career, etc., and how he’s already paid so dearly for his mistake. People will then love him and feel so, so sorry for him.
It will then be left to the civil courts to do something meaningful, but by then the tearful images of the poor suffering Nifon will have been out in the public for months.
I blogged earlier that he should hang. What after all could be worse than the one man charged with protecting justice becoming its main enemy? What treason could be more damaging to civilization?
July 26th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
What after all could be worse than the one man charged with protecting justice becoming its main enemy? What treason could be more damaging to civilization?
Letting Nifong off with less time than Paris Hilton served in an insult to the nation. Maybe there are two Americas after all?
July 26th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
I am not licensed to practice law in NC, but I would bet that the operative statute, which provides for court contempt sanctions, does not give the authority to judges to confine someone for more than 30 days.
I assume (and hope) that there is a criminal statute which provides a more meaningful sentence for fraudulent prosecutions, but time will tell as to whether that supposition is correct.
In any event, I hope that he gets the full 30 days and matriculates into the general prison population with a lot of felons whom he has personally prosecuted.
Should make for some fun bedtime antics.
July 27th, 2007 at 3:21 am
In a just world, he’d do the same time the victims of his fraudulent prosecution were threatened with.
July 27th, 2007 at 10:20 am
I, for one, wish Mr. Nifong a long and successful career in the fast food industry.
July 27th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
It’s 30 days longer than many prosecutors that did the same thing to poor folks have served.