Two Duke Lacrosse Players Indicted

Under the cover of darkness just before 5 a.m. Tuesday, Duke sophomore lacrosse players Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann arrived at the Durham County Jail.

Both are charged with first degree rape, first degree assault and first degree kidnapping. The charges come five weeks after an exotic dancer claimed three members of the Duke lacrosse team raped her during a party at the home of the team’s captains.

But defense attorneys say they have evidence that will show neither Seligmann nor Finnerty was at the party at the time the accuser says the rape occurred.

Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong is proceeding with the case, despite DNA results failing to link any of the players to the accuser. That fact, coupled with Nifong's refusal to publicly comment about the evidence he does have has defense attorneys and UNC students alike scratching their heads.

“It's kind of confusing just because Nifong hasn't really told us what the evidence is, and it makes me wonder what he's basing these indictments on,” junior Dewhitney Upchurch said.