Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Violence widens ahead of Greek austerity vote

Alibi photos for lacrosse players questioned

Prosecutors reportedly claim prints were doctored, don't show correct time

DURHAM, N.C. - Photographs the defense for the Duke lacrosse team planned to use as evidence that there was no alleged rape at a party could be a hindrance, Time magazine reported.

Taxi driver Moez Mostafa told the magazine that he saw exotic dance Kim Roberts exchange angry words with lacrosse players, enter an "old white car" and speed away from the scene. Mostafa, cited as an alibi witness for the accused lacrosse players, told Time magazine that he didn't want to be seen "on the side of the defense only. I want to look like I’m an honest person."

He told Time that he picked up accused player Reade Seligmann and another unknown player at the party at house at 12:19 a.m. on the morning of March 14. He told investigators that he dropped the pair off at 12:40 a.m. at a dorm on campus, after making several stops. Mostafa said he returned to the house at 12:50 a.m. to pick up four more players, whose identities are unknown, around the same time he claims to have seen Kim Roberts get into the white car.

Using his statement, prosecutors will probably attack the defense's claim that the alibis for the accused players — the series of allegedly time-stamped photos taken by players the night of the party — aren't what they seem. Seligmann, 20, and teammate Collin Finnerty, 19, have been charged with rape in the case. 

The photos in question was taken, defense sources say, at approximately 12:41 a.m. and shows the accuser calmly being helped into a car to leave the party. Along with other time-stamped photos from earlier in the evening, defense attorneys will claim that there wasn't enough time for a rape to take place.

But prosecutors will argue, that photo actually shows the accuser being dropped off at the party, not leaving it, and that it was taken well before midnight. Prints taken from digital cell phone cameras have time stamps, but can be altered, digital photography experts told Time. Only the cameras themselves have true embedding time date to correspond with photos taken.

"If the prosecutor can discredit that photo, or one photo, their meanings are all suspect," another lawyer in Durham told Time.

But one defense attorney scoffed at the notion the photo's time stamp was altered or that prosecutors could argue confusion over the two cars. "If it doesn't come out before the trial, if there is a trial, irrefutable evidence will show the photo is correct and the navy blue car is what matters."

Mostafa told Time he has not seen any photos and has not been paid anything by the defense or the accusers. "Nobody paid me anything," Mostafa told Time.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

advertisement
More news
Image: Pekingese Palacegarden Malachy trots in ring at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York
Reuters
Pekingese favored to be top dog

Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.

NY cable dispute blacks out Knicks, 4 NHL teams

NEW YORK (AP) - As the glow fades from the Giants' Super Bowl triumph, some New York sports fans are tuning in to basketball and hockey, with the Rangers in first place and the Knicks' overnight sensation, Jeremy Lin, sparking "Lin-sanity.''

Image:
AP
Six new breeds will join show at Westminster

Robins: This year, six new breeds will be making their debut on the green carpet for the Westminster Dog Show, which begins Monday.

Slide show
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

Slideshow
Boston Celtics v Indiana Pacers
  Who's hot on Twitter?
Check out which of your favorite athletes have the best pages and most followers!

NBCSports.com

Special feature
"American Woman: Fashioning A National Identity" Met Gala - Arrivals
When athletes and celebs get together
A look at the many links between sports and Hollywood stars.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: To match Special Report CAMPAIGN/ROMNEY-OLYMPICS
  Presidential candidates and sports
How do President Obama and his Republican rivals stack up when it comes to their sports backgrounds?