Kirk Osborn, key lawyer for Duke lacrosse players, dies.

[pnwmom]

This case is still ongoing, by the way. The students still face very serious charges (for sexual assault and kidnapping) that carry maximum prison terms of decades.

http://www.newsobserver.com/1185/story/557421.html

"Kirk Osborn, a prominent Chapel Hill lawyer who was an early outspoken defender of the Duke University lacrosse players, died this morning of a heart attack, his wife said today.

SNIP

"Most recently, Osborn was an attorney for Reade Seligmann, 21, who with two other lacrosse players are charged with sexually assaulting an escort service dancer hired to perform for a Duke lacrosse team party in March. Osborn was aggressive early with his defense. He filed a motion seeking to have Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong removed from the case, accusing the prosecutor of going after the lacrosse players to win votes.

"Osborn's court filings announced to the world that despite Nifong's assurances that a rape occurred, Seligmann had phone records, receipts, security camera images and a cab driver that would show he was almost a mile away when the woman said he was participating in her rape.

"Seligmann's alibi, which Nifong protested proved nothing, helped convince many that the allegations against Seligmann, Dave Evans, 23, and Collin Finnerty, 20, were untrue."

STATEMENT FROM SELIGMANN'S FAMILY

www.durhamwonderland.blogspot.com

"We are heartbroken over the death of Kirk Osborn.

"Kirk stood up for Reade at great personal cost. He stood by Reade and together they faced the mob that was outside the Durham County Courthouse a year ago; Kirk never flinched and faced both that mob outside the Courthouse and the bias within the Courthouse with the courage that he showed throughout this case. He passionately believed that the truth would emerge and that the world would know of the injustice that was done that day and every day of this baseless prosecution.

"While it is now plain to anyone with any reason and objectivity that there was no sexual assault and that Reade has been the victim of an unprincipled prosecution, we are nonetheless saddened that Kirk did not live to see the day when Reade will be completely exonerated. While that day will come, it will now come too late for Kirk to share in it. When that day does arrive, it will be as a direct result of Kirk’s courage, skill and passionate belief in the truth.

"Our hearts go out to Kirk’s family. We ask that everyone remember them in their prayers. We will never forget Kirk and his sacrifices for Reade and for justice. Kirk’s fight for the truth and for justice in this case met the highest standards of ethics and professionalism and stand in stark contrast to those who condemned Reade. He is an example of what a lawyer should be.

"We will be forever grateful to Kirk and will never forget what he has done for us."

[youngdem]

1. When the charges are finally dropped, Nifong and both strippers should face the same time as

what the players were facing.

[pnwmom]

2. With respect to Nifong, that would serve justice,

but it won't happen.

The problem with the accuser is that we shouldn't set a precedent that makes it scarier for real victims to come forth.

And I don't see what charges there would be against the 2nd stripper. She said right away that the rape charges were "a crock." Later on, she said that she didn't know, that something may have happened out of her sight -- but that's when most of the media was pushing the idea that something had happened.

But I strongly agree with you about Nifong -- they should throw the book at him.