home

Duke LaCrosse: Were Pills Seized From House?

By Jeralyn, Section Duke Lacrosse
Posted on Mon Apr 17, 2006 at 12:59:27 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

With all the speculation that the accuser was drugged, not just drunk, I just took another look at the return and inventory for the search warrant for the party house. Look at item number 28. Does it say "pills" or "bills"? They would take bills, like phone bills, to show indicia of residency or ownership of the house. Why would they take pills, when the warrant doesn't authorize them to search for pills? If pills were seized, I would think they would be suppressed from any future trial as being illegally seized.

There were no pills seized during the search of the dorm room of the since-suspended student who sent the offensive e-mail.

< Guilty Verdicts in Ex. Gov. George Ryan Trial | Duke: Kroger Security Guard Says "Ain't No Way" There Was a Rape >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Duke LaCrosse: Were Pills Seized From House? | 7 comments (7 topical)
    Re: Duke LaCrosse: Were Pills Seized From House? (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dadler on Mon Apr 17, 2006 at 02:24:58 PM EST
    If the pills are "illegal" in nature, and are found during a legal search for something else, can they be legally confiscated and potentially used as evidence in the future?

    Re: Duke LaCrosse: Were Pills Seized From House? (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 17, 2006 at 02:30:05 PM EST
    I would think they'd have to put the pills aside and get a second warrant to seize and test them. Particularly if their incriminating nature wasn't readily ascertainable.

    Re: Duke LaCrosse: Were Pills Seized From House? (none / 0) (#3)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Apr 17, 2006 at 02:30:50 PM EST
    JM, after looking at the "p's" in the handwriting in rest of the document, it sure looks like "pills" to me.

    Re: Duke LaCrosse: Were Pills Seized From House? (none / 0) (#4)
    by chew2 on Mon Apr 17, 2006 at 02:46:47 PM EST
    TL, One of the downsides of following this case is that I have occasionally tuned in to those TV crime/talk shows, including Nancy Grace (Yuck!). One of the defense lawyers on her show claimed that the affidavit and warrant were too vague, and that the whole search should/and would be suppressed. Grace almost agreed with him. Are these guys idiots? The warrant looks pretty specific to me. Do they even manage to get the facts before commenting? Sorry to say I haven't managed to catch you on TV yet.

    Re: Duke LaCrosse: Were Pills Seized From House? (none / 0) (#5)
    by azbballfan on Mon Apr 17, 2006 at 02:51:18 PM EST
    The warrant also didn't ask for KY jelly, the paper towels or plastic bag which were taken. Also taken but not listed in the warant: dishrag - multiple rugs, etc. If the pills become material evidence, does collecting them without expressed instructions from the bench violate the defendants constitutional rights?

    Re: Duke LaCrosse: Were Pills Seized From House? (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 17, 2006 at 02:58:03 PM EST
    My gather from the listing of the items is that the items in and around the #28, are items taken from a bathroom like area. You would not find "Bills" in that setting. It is most likely it is pills, based on those other items in and around that list. Just my take.

    Re: Duke LaCrosse: Were Pills Seized From House? (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 17, 2006 at 03:41:02 PM EST
    It looks like the court and the police with have a field day dividing up the potential evidence in this case since they took all the good stuff first. That's what usually happens isn't it.

    Duke LaCrosse: Were Pills Seized From House? | 7 comments (7 topical)