Duke's most infamous sons were the targets of scorn-and worse-through more than a year as suspected criminals. In his statement dismissing all charges, N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper called the case a "tragic result of a rush to accuse" and pointedly referred to the defendants as "innocent."
That designation is a far cry from a certain pot-banging "wake-up call" suggesting castration as an appropriate punishment. That's because 395 days after the party, the story has pulled a 180, with District Attorney Mike Nifong facing accusations of ethics violations instead of cheering crowds.
Through it all, the three Dukies were steadfast in maintaining their innocence and their desire for closure, not vengeance. In the face of a national firestorm of hysterical stereotyping and hatred, Evans, Finnerty and Seligman were bastions of class and composure.
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