Judge postpones Nifong's criminal contempt hearing

A judge has postponed a hearing to consider holding former prosecutor Mike Nifong in criminal contempt of court for his handling of the Duke lacrosse rape case.

Superior Court Judge Osmond Smith had initially planned to consider the issue on July 26th. He will instead hear motions and other preliminary arguments that day, and will schedule the actual contempt hearing for a later date.

Smith ruled last month there was probable cause to believe Nifong ``willfully and intentionally made false statements of material fact'' to the court while pursuing rape charges against three Duke lacrosse players. They athletes were later cleared by state prosecutors, who took care to call them innocent of the allegations.

If held in contempt, Nifong faces up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to 500 dollars.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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