Development heartens accused's backers

DURHAM -- The accused still face felony charges, but many Duke lacrosse case observers see dropped rape charges as more proof that there's no proof.

Duke University President Richard Brodhead on Friday called on Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong to clear the accused players completely.

"Given the certainty with which the district attorney made his many public statements regarding the rape allegation, his decision today to drop [the rape] charge must call into question the validity of the remaining charges," Brodhead said in a statement, a dramatic break from the university's previously cautious and noncommittal responses.

"The district attorney should now put this case in the hands of an independent party, who can restore confidence in the fairness of the process. Further, Mr. Nifong has an obligation to explain to all of us his conduct in this matter," Brodhead said.

Lacrosse players David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann were accused in March of raping an escort-service dancer at a rental house near Duke's campus. They still stand accused of first-degree sexual offense and first-degree kidnapping.

But from Duke's Gothic spires to Ninth Street's barstools, it was hard to find anyone who didn't believe -- or want to believe -- that Friday began the scandal's final act.

Though some interpretations were couched in cautious optimism -- "It's a victory, but it's only one step," said Duke lacrosse coach John Danowski -- others dripped with I-told-you-so conviction.

"It's a textbook case of why a lawyer, and certainly a district attorney, should be sure all the evidence is gathered before you decide what you should do," said Lewis Cheek, a county commissioner whom Nifong defeated in November's district attorney election. "These indictments were sought prematurely."

Some, though, cautioned against trying the case prematurely.

The Rev. William J. Barber II, a Durham minister and president of the state NAACP, issued a statement Friday stressing that serious charges still remain.

"Find the truth, face the truth," Barber said. "Try the case in the courts, not in the media."

Years of tension

The rape charges in March culminated years of tense relations between Duke students and Durham residents. All-night partying and destructive behavior at the lacrosse team house where the accuser said the rape occurred infuriated residents. They had begged Duke officials and police to crack down.

Francis Conlin, 50, who lives near the house, said the players' loud parties used to keep his wife awake at night. He is still waiting for the players to own up to their role, though he also said dropping rape charges casts doubt on the whole case.

"If a rape didn't occur, nobody wants these kids charged with rape," Conlin said.

"If there was overreaction, I still leave it at the feet of the Duke lacrosse team. I don't believe the community went overboard, any more than the students went overboard in doing repeatedly what the community asked them not to do."

Nifong refused to comment publicly Friday. His critics, however, were notably less reticent.

"I think Nifong's running scared," said Mike Cole, 51, owner of Charlie's Neighborhood Bar near the Duke University campus, who recently employed a Duke lacrosse player.

"Everybody here thinks he's a fish-eyed fool, and he should be hung from Five Points."

Jackie Brown, who served as Nifong's campaign director for the spring primary, only to jump ship to serve the campaign to recall Nifong before the November election, was more concise but just as condemning.

"He's dead," she said. "Put a fork in him, he's done."

Even people who aren't ready to write off the case said their confidence that the accuser was raped at 610 N. Buchanan Blvd. is waning.

"I think if she did lie, it was a waste of time, and it's making us as a school look bad," said Britteny Abrams, 19, a sophomore at N.C. Central University, where the accuser attended classes.

Danowski, who took the team's helm after former coach Mike Pressler resigned in the wake of the rape charges, said team members feel slightly vindicated by the dropped charges but won't be able to relax and move on until the case is closed. They remain close-knit and convinced their former teammates are innocent, Danowski said.

"The guys were criticized for, quote, banding together," Danowski said.

"But all they had was the truth, and that hasn't changed for them. The hope is the truth will just continue to come out."

(Staff writers Michael Biesecker, Eric Ferreri and Stanley B. Chambers Jr. contributed to this report.)