Nifong might lose 3 guitars

DURHAM -- Former prosecutor Mike Nifong might have to part with his cherished guitars.

The trustee overseeing his estate in federal bankruptcy court has asked a judge to order a public auction of the instruments Oct. 12 at 361 Ja Max Drive, Hillsborough. The request was filed in court Wednesday.

In bankruptcy court hearings, Jim Craven, Nifong's lawyer, said his estate consists of little more than his three guitars. Court documents list the instruments as a Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster, a Martin D-41 and a PRS Custom 24.

Nifong filed for bankruptcy protection Jan. 15, the day he was to respond to a lawsuit filed by the three former Duke lacrosse players -- Dave Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann. The three, who were declared innocent of the charges by the state attorney general, have accused Nifong, Durham police and others of conspiring of willful and malicious prosecution and with conspiring to charge them with gang-rape allegations that were "a total fabrication."

The bankruptcy filing was a legal maneuver that put the malicious prosecution case on hold for months, until a bankruptcy judge returned the case to federal District Court, saying personal injury claims should be heard there.