Statement by Durham DA Mike Nifong

STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC

April 18, 2006

Yesterday, based on evidence developed thus far in the investigation of the alleged sexual assault occurring at 610 N. Buchanan Boulevard in Durham, I submitted bills of indictment to the Grand Jury charging two members of the Duke University lacrosse team with the felonies of First Degree Rape, First Degree Sex Offense, and First Degree Kidnapping. The Grand Jury has returned those bills as true bills against Collin Finnerty and Reade William Seligmann. Upon my motion, and pursuant to the order of Judge Ronald L. Stephens under N.C.G.S. 15A-623(f), the bills of indictment were sealed. Because of that, no one in the court system was permitted to disclose that those bills had been returned – or even that they had been submitted to the Grand Jury – until such time as the defendants were arrested. Those arrests occurred earlier this morning, and each defendant was placed under a secured bond of $400,000.00.

It had been my hope to be able to charge all three of the assailants at the same time, but the evidence available to me at this moment does not permit that. Investigation into the identity of the third assailant will continue in the hope that he can also be identified with certainty. It is important that we not only bring the assailants to justice, but also that we lift the cloud of suspicion from those team members who were not involved in the assault.

Since these are now active and pending cases, the District Attorney’s Office will make no more public statements about the matter other than those made in open court pursuant to any hearings held in connection with these cases.

Mike Nifong District Attorney Durham, NC