Judge rejects new trial request by Crystal Mangum, convicted of killing her boyfriend
The woman is largely known as the would-be victim who falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape was in a Durham County courtroom on Wednesday to request a new trial after she was convicted five years ago in the slaying of her boyfriend with a butter knife.
Posted — UpdatedA Durham County judge on Wednesday threw out a request for a new trial that had been requested by the woman largely known as the would-be victim who falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape.
Crystal Mangum was seeking to have the court overturn her second-degree murder conviction in the April 3, 2011 killing of her boyfriend, Reginald Daye, 46.
Jurors found her guilty on a second-degree murder charge five years ago.
Ten days after Daye was attacked with a butter knife, he died at Duke University Hospital after he suffered complications from his injuries.
During her murder trial in 2013, Mangum argued in court that the stabbing was a case of self-defense, saying her boyfriend had beat her in a jealous rage. She had maintained that he was stabbed when she fought back with the knife.
Jurors deliberated for at least six hours over a two-day span before convicting Mangum in the death of her boyfriend.
Mangum generated international headlines with her accusations about the Duke players.
When she claimed that three players on the Duke lacrosse team trapped her inside a bathroom when she was performing as a stripper at a team party and raped and sexually assaulted her. Her story about the incident was so inconsistent that Attorney General Roy Cooper later declared the players innocent, saying there was no credible evidence against them.
When she appeared in court Wednesday, she was handcuffed and represented herself.
She spoke directly to the judge when she explained why she wanted the new trial. She also addressed the prosecutor and rebutted arguments made by the lawyers.
The district attorney's office had argued that the judge should dismiss Mangum's request because the statue of limitations had expired for her to request a new trial.
Mangum filed several requests that were all rejected by the judge, who also approved what she described as a "gatekeeping request" that prohibits Mangum from filing future suits against the Durham County sheriff or prosecutors.
Related Topics
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
