The woman who falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her in 2006 has been charged with murder over the death of her boyfriend.

Crystal Mangum, 32, was indicted on Monday on a charge of first-degree murder and two counts of theft. She has been in jail since 3 April, when police charged her with assault in the stabbing of 46-year-old Reginald Daye. He died in hospital nearly two weeks later.

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Last year she was convicted of starting a fire that nearly destroyed her home with her three children inside. She told officers she was arguing with her boyfriend at the time–not Daye–and burned his clothes, smashed his car windshield and threatened to stab him.

Friends said Mangum has never recovered from the stigma of the lacrosse case and has been involved in a string of questionable relationships in an attempt to provide stability for her three children.

Vincent Clark, a friend who co-authored Mangum’s self-published memoir, said he hoped people would not rush to judge her. {snip}

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