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4 Suspects Out On Bail, Prosecutors Collect Evidence In Brooklyn Rape Case

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Four of the five accused of raping an 18-year-old woman in a Brooklyn park are out on bail after prosecutors said they needed more time to collect evidence.

The Brooklyn district attorney's office has six months to investigate. A grand jury would decide whether to indict the boys.

Debbie Silberman, attorney for suspect Travis Beckford, 17, said the teen made his $2,500 bail Wednesday night.

Silberman said prosecutors had earlier requested $500,000 bail for the other four suspects, and on Wednesday night, the judge had asked for $25,000 bail for Beckford.

"It seems that the case has been changing a lot over the past couple of days," Silberman told WCBS 880's Stephanie Colombini.

Silberman said neither the father or the daughter could spot Beckford in a lineup.

"And they could not identify him as one of the perpetrators," Silberman added.

The fifth suspect continues to be held on an unrelated assault charge.

The incident happened last Thursday night, Jan. 7, inside Osborne Park in Brownsville.

Police said one of the teens threatened the father with a gun, ordering him to leave. When the father left to get help, that's when investigators said the teens took turns raping his daughter.

According to sources, two of the suspects said the incident with the woman was consensual, CBS2 reported.

Sources said the 18-year-old victim admitted she had been drinking in the park with her father when the teens approached.

On Wednesday, police were examining three phones recovered from the teenagers after defense lawyers claimed that at least one of the youths shot video of the alleged victim smiling and laughing during the encounter.

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said he has been briefed on the video.

"I believe it's nine to 11 seeconds, I believe it's been retrieved from one of the cellphones carried by one of the five young men that are being investigated in this matter," Bratton said Thursday.

Deputy Chief Edward Mullen, a police spokesperson, said Wednesday that police had obtained search warrants for the cellphones seized following the arrests. He said the phones were being examined, but he had no information about their content.

The boys must be released from jail if they aren't indicted within five days of their arrests, which is Friday. Three of the boys are out on bail. One will be released. The fifth will continue to be held on an unrelated assault case.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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