Judge dismisses rape charges

[massillon catholic]

A Maryland judge has dismissed rape and molestation charges against a man because the judge claims that a suitable interpretor couldn't be located. According to the state attorney, the man has a West African language and that they had interpretors to work the case. The first intepretor became too emotional after hearing of the details of the molestation, which involved a 7 year old. The second intepretor became ill. There was a third in-line, but the judge decided to dismiss the case. The state atty has appealed the judge's ruling to dismiss.

[austinsm11]

I heard about this the other day. Absolutely ridiculous.

[ChronicTiger]

Why not take it the other way and just throw this tool in jail?

[DAWGH8R]

Just shoot him !! Who's he gonna tell.

[Obie Wan]

Actually, it's a bit worse: the accused supposedly attended both high school and college in the US. As such, it would seem almost certain that he was (at a minimum) functionally conversant in English. I believe that I also heard that the use of an interpreter was the result of an evaluation by a court-appointed psychiatrist - and that independent news organizations subsequently found several competent translators in the area.

[massillon catholic]

Actually, it's a bit worse: the accused supposedly attended both high school and college in the US. As such, it would seem almost certain that he was (at a minimum) functionally conversant in English. I believe that I also heard that the use of an interpreter was the result of an evaluation by a court-appointed psychiatrist - and that independent news organizations subsequently found several competent translators in the area.

I wasn't aware that he attended schools in the US. That makes this even more absurd!

[longtimefirsttime]

How can this happen?

[PhotoObie]

I had not heard about this case. Nice example of the justice system failing an innocent victim and letting a piece of garbage walk free.



Rockville Judge Dismisses Rape Case

(AP) ROCKVILLE, Md. A man accused of repeatedly raping and molesting a 7-year-old girl is no longer facing charges because the court could not find an interpreter fluent in his native West African language.

Police in Montgomery arrested Mahamu Kanneh in Gaithersburg three years ago after witnesses came forward with the charges. Witnesses and DNA evidence were prepared for a trial.

But after losing three possible interpreters of Vai, the Liberian suspect's language, they were unable to find an
interpreter to stay, even after an exhaustive search that included the Liberian Embassy and courts in all the states except three.

The judge said last week that it was one of the most difficult decisions she's had to make in a long time, but that the case's delays had violated Kanneh's right to a speedy trial.

Prosecutors can't refile the charges but are considering whether to appeal the judge's ruling to dismiss the case.


(© 2007 The Associated Press.

[DAWGH8R]

In 3 years, they couldn't figure out the translator issue !!

[DAWGH8R]

The Washington Post wrote in its article that in just one night reporters were independently able to identify three Vai translators available to assist in the case. It noted that the need for interpreters has risen starkly in Montgomery County, Md., with the court system spending $1 million in interpreters in 2006, or 10 times the amount it spent in 2000.

[massillon catholic]

He didn't need an intepretor, he spoke English. Some damn psychiatrist said it would be beneficial that he had one. Since when is it up to a psychiatrist to make that determination? Did the psychiatrist speak his language?