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Duke lacrosse accuser Crystal Mangum charged with murder
The woman who falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her in 2006 has been charged with murder over the death of her boyfriend.
Crystal Mangum, 32, was indicted on Monday on a charge of first-degree murder and two counts of theft. She has been in jail since 3 April, when police charged her with assault in the stabbing of 46-year-old Reginald Daye. He died in hospital nearly two weeks later.
Mangum had accused the lacrosse players of raping her at a party, for which she was hired to perform as a stripper. The case heightened long-standing tensions in the university in Durham, North Carolina, about race, class and the privileged status of college athletes. Prosecutors declined to press charges over her claims.
Last year she was convicted of starting a fire that nearly destroyed her home with her three children inside. She told officers she was arguing with her boyfriend at the time - not Daye - and burned his clothes, smashed his car windshield and threatened to stab him.
Friends said Mangum has never recovered from the stigma of the lacrosse case and has been involved in a string of questionable relationships in an attempt to provide stability for her three children.
Vincent Clark, a friend who co-authored Mangum's self-published memoir, said he hoped people would not rush to judge her. He said Mangum realises she has mental health problems: "I'm sad for her. I hope people realise how difficult it is being her," he added.
A federal judge recently ruled that the three players accused of attacking Mangum - Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and Dave Evans - could pursue a lawsuit against the detectives and the district attorney at the time, Mike Nifong, over their handling of the case. The players have not sued Mangum.
A lawyer for Mangum did not return a call seeking comment. The district attorney's office declined to discuss the case.
Source: AP