Woman panel member has some questions. I forget her name.
She’s asking about the Meehan meetings and the fingernail evidence. “You’re certain you met with Meehan before he had those fingernails for testing?” Nifong: Yes.
WRAL just went out on my TV. Have to switch to online. There. Have NBC17 going.
She: “We had the pleasure at lunch of watching the photo array. Have you ever watched that? Nifong: Parts of it. Her: When? Nifong: Not sure specifically, late April or early May.
WRAL TV is back up.
Her: Who made the decision to indict Reade Seligmann? Nifong: It was my decision. Her: Do you recall speaking with Gottlieb about his questions as to whether that was appropriate. Points out that Himan said Gottlieb had called him concerned about it. Nifong: Some were concerned that since we didn’t have independent info that Reade was at the party that maybe we shouldn’t. But we later learned he was.
Her: Who made the decision to indict Evans. Nifong: Me.
Question from the other male panel member: What did you mean when you said you’d try this the “old fashioned way.” Nifong: In the past we used to try these cases with no DNA because the technology wasn’t available. “Often what we had was the testimony of a victim to what had occurred” and the identity of the person the victim identifies as the assailant.
Williamson: In the old-fashioned way you didn’t have any DNA testing. Well here you have the accuser’s testimony and you have DNA testing with no direct links. Do yu think the old fashioned way still works under that scenario? Nifong: Believes when you have an accuser who identifies a person as the assailant then that’s enough to send before a jury.
Williamson: Would you today bring to trial a case in which you have only an accuser who wants to tell here story? Nifong: Not necessarily. Have to look at all the facts.
Williamson: What facts convinced you that Crystal Mangum was credible enough to go to trial based on only her word? Nifong: There was more than her word. There was the SANE nurse, her being traumatized, the fingernail with Evans’ DNA on it.
Williamson: What made you feel the fingernail was so important? Nifong: Her story about losing the fingernail during the attack and naming Evans as her assailant and then finding his DNA on the nail.
Williamson: Why did you serve the warrant on Mr. Elmostafa? Nifong: That’s just our policy when we have outstanding warrants. Blames a spelling error for it not being served sooner.
Williamson: Were you aware at the time of his trial that he was being tried? Nifong: Learned later. Williamson: Were you aware that Elmostafa was being used as Seligmann’s alibi? Nifong: Yes I did. Had no concern about it, Cites as proof that they arrested the other dancer on a probation violation.
Williamson: Didn’t it strike you that this might be viewed as coercive? Nifong: No. It’s just our policy. [This sounds really lame.]
No more questions.
