Gotta Love Maryland!

[Michelle]

Alleged Child Rapist Goes Free Because Court Can't Find Interpreter

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,290300,00.html

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Charges against a man accused of repeatedly raping and molesting a 7-year-old girl were dismissed last week because the court could not find an interpreter fluent in the suspect's native West African language.

Mahamu Kanneh, a Liberian native who received asylum in this country and attended high school and community college here, according to The Washington Post, was denied a speedy trial after three years awaiting a court-appointed interpreter who could speak the tribal language of Vai.

A court-ordered psychiatrist determined that Kanneh, despite his functional facility with English — he originally spoke with detectives in English, The Post reports, needed to have Vai spoken in order to understand the proceedings against him.

Loretta Knight, a clerk with the court system in Montgomery County, Md., said she had been unable to find an interpreter to stay on the case, even after an exhaustive search that included the Liberian Embassy and courts in 47 states.

Judge Katherine Savage called her decision to dismiss the charges one of the most difficult she's had to make in a long time, especially since she was aware of "the gravity of this case and the community's concern about offenses of this type."

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

FOX News spoke with a man who claimed to be Kanneh in a five-minute phone conversation on Sunday in English. He said the allegations against him were false and the dismissal of the charges was "a good thing." Asked if the accusations were true, he responded, "I said what I had to say" and hung up.

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.

According to witnesses who originally reported the case to authorities, Kanneh allegedly repeatedly raped and sexually molested the girl, a relative. In a statement made by the girl to police, she said she had been told she'd be forced to stay in the apartment unless she had sex with Kanneh.

[vinuneuro]

seriously?

[AzNMpower32]

Yea, you gotta love Maryland. Especially MoCo

[MrLabGuy]

Time for a little "Street Justice". Nuff Said.

[Chip]

wow... i can't believe they would just let him go... there are somethings which go beyond the boundry of language...

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by Chip

wow... i can't believe they would just let him go... there are somethings which go beyond the boundry of language...

It has to do with the right to a speedy trial. He had been held for 3 years prior to trial and our system rightfully so says you are innocent until proved guilty. Regardless of the crime or evidence.

Easy solution...Start requiring immigrants to learn English before becoming s citizen and make English the official language of America. No more ballots in 40 different languages. No more taking the drivers test at the DMV in a Zillion languages. No more welfare instructions in a Zillion languages.

If I was to become a citizen of France I'd learn French...Period.

Michael

[NOVAX5]

Originally Posted by MrLabGuy

It has to do with the right to a speedy trial. He had been held for 3 years prior to trial and our system rightfully so says you are innocent until proved guilty. Regardless of the crime or evidence.

Easy solution...Start requiring immigrants to learn English before becoming s citizen and make English the official language of America. No more ballots in 40 different languages. No more taking the drivers test at the DMV in a Zillion languages. No more welfare instructions in a Zillion languages.

If I was to become a citizen of France I'd learn French...Period.

Michael

Since when the U.S speaks only english? What about Spanish, Native American?

[Wagner]

Now a family member of the girl needs to accidentally hit a person with their car in a parking lot.

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by NOVAX5

Since when the U.S speaks only English? What about Spanish, Native American?

Speak as many languages as you want...Just learn English if you plan on becoming a citizen.

Last time I checked we spend Billions printing government documents in foreign languages and interpreters for our own so-called citizens.

English as the Official Language is all I'm asking.

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by MrLabGuy

Speak as many languages as you want...Just learn English if you plan on becoming a citizen.

Last time I checked we spend Billions printing government documents in foreign languages and interpreters for our own so-called citizens.

English as the Official Language is all I'm asking.

Begin rant:

There you go.

I love how Spanish has just been added to everything in the states. A land built on immigrants that all seemed to learn the language until about the 1990's when we decided "oh, it's just too hard for the Spanish speakers". Talk about low expectations.

End Rant.