Crystal Mangum, Duke lacrosse accuser, gets 14 years for murder

A North Carolina woman who falsely claimed three Duke University lacrosse players raped her in 2006 was convicted Friday of murder for killing her boyfriend. Crystal Mangum, 32, stabbed live-in boyfriend Reginald Daye, 46, with a kitchen knife during an April 3, 2011, argument. Daye died 10 days later at Duke University Hospital after being treated for serious torso injuries. Deputies escorted Mangum handcuffed out of the courtroom after Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway sentenced her to 14 years and two months to 18 years in prison for second-degree murder, the (Charlotte, N.C.) News and Observer reported. Mangum's attorney, Daniel Meir, indicated his client will appeal. Mangum was initially jailed on a $300,000 bond and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. A man calling 911 after the alleged stabbing identified Mangum as the attacker, police said. Magnum was arrested in February 2010 and charged with attempted murder, arson and child abuse after an argument with Milton Walker, her then-boyfriend. She allegedly attacked Walker and set his clothes on fire in the bathtub while three children were present, police said. She was found guilty in December 2010 of three counts of child abuse, injury to personal property and resisting a public officer. A felony arson charge was dismissed. In March 2006, Magnum, who is black, falsely accused three white Duke University members of the men's student lacrosse team of raping her at a March 13, 2006, party held at the house of two team captains. Fallout from the case's resolution included the disbarment of Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong, the lead prosecutor.