Duke DA in tailspin
The incredible turn that life has taken for the prosecutor in the Duke lacrosse rape case, Mike Nifong, just got a little weirder. A hearing was held in North Carolina today, the purpose of which was to establish that Nifong is really, really, really fired from his job as Durham County DA.
As a result of the discredited case that's been characterized as an instance of prosecutorial misconduct, Nifong has already been disbarred, has made known his intention to resign, and, in fact, has already been temporarily replaced. But he failed to show at today's hearing.
Nifong also faces the possibility of going to jail himself for criminal contempt of court for earlier conduct.
A law enforcement official, Capt. Bill Wrenn of the Durham County Sheriff's Office, was quoted by TV station WRAL in Raleigh as saying, "Mr. Nifong's wife informed one of my officers earlier in the day that Mike had taken his guitar and left, and she didn't have any idea when he'd return."
For the former prosecutor, life is now about facing the music, not making it.
Comments
I wonder how many other cases Durham County will have to re-try for criminals convicted in Jail and Nifrong was the DA for.
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I know that comes into play for some official misconduct situations, often involving police who testified or introduced tainted evidence, but the Duke prosector's situation may not impact other cases. The qustion is valid, though.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Captain Jack | June 28, 2007 2:42 PM
Missing, along with his guitar? Maybe since he's been disbarred, the only way he can continue to fight crime is as El Kabong.
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Was that the alter ego of Quick Draw McGraw?
Posted by: john | June 28, 2007 5:58 PM