Iowa slaughterhouse child labor trial is postponed

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hyX3XViI87nyMkVGFnA5PrjQdocwD979V8U82

By AMY LORENTZEN

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The owner and former managers of a northeast Iowa kosher slaughterhouse have been granted a delay in trial on thousands of state child labor charges.

During a hearing Wednesday in Waterloo, a judge continued the trial involving Agriprocessors Inc. until Aug. 4. Trial had been scheduled for April 20.

The judge also ordered the trial to be moved about 70 miles from Allamakee County to Black Hawk County.

The judge will rule later on other arguments, including motions to dismiss.

The Iowa attorney general's office has filed more than 9,000 child labor charges against the Postville plant, its owners and former managers. Prosecutors accuse them of hiring minors and in some cases of having children younger than 16 handle dangerous equipment.

[madaboutharry]

1. It is a good thing Agriprocessors Inc is out of business.

This level of corruption can never be tolerated within the kosher community. It is so disturbing. I have actually seriously considered becoming a vegetarian over this. I bought their meat and chicken for years before this all came out and it is so upsetting. Their products were sold for years at Trader Joe's. I really can't explain how upsetting this has been. I have eaten very little meat since this all happened.

I know this may not make sense to some people, but it has impacted me on a religious and spiritual level.