Venezuela releases judge Afiuni from house arrest

[happyslug]

22. Under the law in Venezuela she could be held a prisoner in pre-trail detention for 2 years

That is the technically she used to dismiss the charges against the banker who then skipped the country. This law is NOT new in Venezuela, it has existed since at least the 1960s (and was used to hold people BEFORE Chavez took over). Thus, under the concept of Due Process, she could be held.

Now, in the US, the general rule for pre trial detention is 180 days, unless the Defense caused the delay in getting to trial. Any delay requested by the Defense is NOT included when you add up the days in pre-trial detention.

The Supreme Court of the US has put down no specific numbers of days, but tends to require Prosecutors to work within the 180 day period.

On the other hand, the US Supreme Court has refused to order the release of the Prisoners in Guantanamo, even through some are coming up to ten years imprisonment without trial.

Thus the detention is not unheard of even in the US.