A rape case under the microscope

Re “Duke case worsens for prosecution,” Dec. 16

The private forensics lab hired to perform DNA tests in the Duke rape case withheld evidence that exculpated the accused rapists. How could this happen? During the testimony in which this coverup was revealed, lab director Brian Meehan referred to Durham Dist. Atty. Mike Nifong as “my client.” Instead of serving the truth, they were serving their “client,” the prosecutor’s office. Unfortunately, such identification with the “client” is human, all too human. Crime labs should be independent of police and prosecutor, and public defenders should be given greater access to forensic advice and testing. Justice will suffer as long as forensic scientists work for the prosecution rather than the truth.

ROGER KOPPL

Madison, N.J.

The writer is director of the Institute for Forensic Science Administration at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison. N.J.

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Whoever said “justice delayed is justice denied” must have had Durham, N.C., in mind.

We know now that Nifong indicted even after he knew that the DNA results showed that Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty had had no contact with their accuser.

The judge may be happy to take a holiday break, but the indicted players and their families are not going to be able to take a holiday from this nightmare.

It remains a scandal that it has taken nearly 10 months for this hoax to be dealt with. Surely such an obvious example of criminal misuse of the system calls for more than just an ordinary response, or the tepid response the North Carolina bar and the federal authorities have given it.

RANDOLPH PARRISH

Scottsdale, Ariz.