Reply #21: Unable to find interpreter, court drops child rape case

[catgirl]

Source: AFP


WASHINGTON (AFP) - A judge in Maryland dropped child rape charges against a Liberian-born man because court officials could not find an interpreter for the defendant, court officials said Monday

Three years after Mahamu Kanneh was arrested and charged with repeatedly raping a seven-year-old girl, judge Katherine Savage dropped the charges because the delays had violated his right to a speedy trial.

"This is one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make in a long time," Savage was quoted as saying by the Washington Post.

The defense said Kanneh needed an interpreter who spoke his native tribal language, Vai, in order to fully understand the proceedings, even though he attended high school and college in Maryland and was able to speak English.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070723/ts_alt_afp/usliberiatrialchild_070723180425;_ylt=AkGVAq3rKerJXh62UIfZd7jMWM0F

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Great legal system we have. One night in jail for repeatedly raping
a seven year old girl.