Steubenville Rape Case: Thursday /Friday Updates

I have been following the controversy and outrage over the sexual assualts and alleged coverup in Steubenville, Ohio,  for weeks, partly because my wife's family lives nearby and I have visited that city many times.   Here were my Wednesday updates, with Thursday's and Friday's below.

4:05  And the Daily Mail (see below) has another exclusive on details of rape allegation relating to prom party in Steubenvuille last April and involving girl,14.   I believe this has been mentioned before but not sure.
   
2:00 p.m.  The Daily Mail online from London is known for its often sensationalist coverage and it has been covering this case from afar and closeup.  They are just up with what they consider a real scoop, opening this way:  "Shocking images have been found on a cellphone showing two more girls, facedown and partially naked on the floor of the same basement where the Ohio rape of a 16-year-old girl allegedly took place, it can be revealed today. The photographs were stored on a cellphone belonging to a teammate and friend of the Steubenville case accused, Ma’lik Richmond and Trent Mays – and raise the chilling possibility of two more, as yet unknown, victims.  The images were not taken on the night under investigation and it is not clear whether their subjects were conscious or aware of being photographed."

1:30 p.m.  Michelle Dean just up with piece at The New Yorker on "The Lessons of Steubenville."  Mainly she sticks to the reporting, privacy and social media angles.  "The impulse to observe the principle of innocent until proven guilty can be an admirable one. It’s just that in this case, as in so many others, people’s reluctance to 'judge' is often chiefly exercised as an excuse to avoid uncomfortable facts. For one thing, the “process” is not actually working. The prosecution of sexual assault in America remains very difficult. Most cases boil down to 'he said/she said'; they are thought to be impossible to prove. Despite concerns about rushes to judgment, all signs suggest the public still, overwhelmingly, believes the accused at the expense of accusers. The arrest rates for rape remain where they were in the mid-seventies..."

10:30 a.m. Local school superintendent speaks at length for first time, nothing much new, describes programs to educate students on issues.   And a "Stand Up for Steubenville" rally planned for tomorrow.

 8:50 a.m.  Atlantic Wire with latest update, following up on the news below on alleged "no immunity" conflict.  They detail who the three witnesses in question are and chances for any others stepping forward, plus the different statements, going back months, including from Sheriff Abdalla (left), on whether some are on or off the hook.

Thursday

11:30  Big news--and conflict.  Attorneys, and some bloggers, have asserted that deals were cut on immunity for certain witnesses/participants in the assaults, including those who film or photographed it.  Today, Mike DeWine, the state attorney general who has taken over the case, disputes that.  But see quotes from lawyers.  Someone's not telling the truth.

10:10 p.m. Not sure what this means, but it seems Steubenville schools are urging students to come forward with any new info on case.