Prosecutor Expresses Confidence In Duke Case

DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 30 -- The prosecutor in the Duke University rape case said Monday that he is comfortable with nearly all the decisions he has made about the case against three lacrosse players and is confident about taking it to trial.

"I think that I have a responsibility to prosecute this case," District Attorney Mike Nifong said. "I think that really nothing about my view of the case and my view of how the case ultimately needs to be handled has been affected by any of the things that have occurred."

A woman hired as a stripper for a March 13 off-campus party told police she was raped in a bathroom by three men. A grand jury indicted three lacrosse players on charges of rape, kidnapping and sexual offense; they have strongly declared their innocence.

Nifong's comments angered lawyer Joseph Cheshire, who represents David Evans, one of the players who has been charged. Cheshire said Nifong's belief he "wouldn't look back and do any of that differently is astounding."

"I don't think that you could find any person educated in the law who would not second-guess many things that Mr. Nifong has done in this case," he said.

Nifong declined to comment on the remarks of Kim Roberts, a second stripper at the party, which were aired by ABC on Monday. She said the accuser was clearly impaired and "talking crazy" after they left the party.

Roberts said she could not get the accuser to leave her car and pushed on the woman's arm and leg to try to force her out. Roberts quoted the accuser as saying: "Go ahead, go ahead. Put marks on me. Go ahead. That's what I want. Go ahead."