Md. Judge Dismisses Sex-Abuse Charges Clerk Is Unable To Find Suitable Translator In Time

The Washington Post ^ | July 22, 2007 | Ernesto Londano

[khnyny]

A 7-year-old girl said she had been raped and repeatedly molested over the course of a year. Police in Montgomery County, acting on information from a relative, soon arrested a Liberian immigrant living in Gaithersburg. They marshaled witnesses and DNA evidence to prepare for trial.

What was missing -- for much of the nearly three years that followed -- was an interpreter fluent in the suspect's native language. A judge recently dropped the charges, not because she found that Mahamu Kanneh had been wrongly accused but because repeated delays in the case had, in her view, violated his right to a speedy trial.

"This is one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make in a long time," Katherine D. Savage said from the bench Tuesday, noting that she was mindful of "the gravity of this case and the community's concern about offenses of this type."

Loretta E. Knight, the Circuit Court clerk responsible for finding interpreters, said her office searched exhaustively for a speaker of Vai, a tribal language spoken in West Africa. They contacted the Liberian Embassy, she said, and courts in all but three states. Linguists estimate that 100,000 people speak Vai, mostly in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

[khnyny]

An alleged child rapist has been freed on a false technicality by a Judge in Montgomery County, MD (the perp speaks English). Where is the justice for this child? This guy is a menace to the community.

This is an unbelievable story and was posted just once, yesterday, but I believe it is more than worth posting again.

[Sir Hailstone]

MoCo PING!

[LWalk18]

Somehow the Court could not find an interpreter in three years, yet the Post could find three Vai interpreters with a few phone calls. This is all because one psychologist claimed that he would not be able to understand English enough to defend himself, despite all the evidence to the contrary!

I went to school with some Liberian immigrants, and none have been unable to speak English. Liberia was founded by former American slaves- English is not a strange language to them.

[stuartcr]

The news this morning said that he had been a student, and actually talked with the police in english.

[Owl_Eagle]

Yeah... see, the thing is, I speak one of those languages that only twins speak. Unfortunately, I don't have a twin, so it's of rather limited value, but I need you to find someone who speaks it in order for me to get a fair trial.

Owl_Eagle

If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.

[Ben Mugged]

I heard on Fox this morning that the guy speaks English very well. He graduated from High School in the US and is going to enroll in Community College.

Even though he speaks English, a court psychiatrist said it would be better for him to have consultation in his native language. A defense attorney ploy.

[TexasCajun]

How did the Liberian function in the US if no one could communicate with him.

He understands and speaks some english and has scammed his way out of a prison sentence.

[toldyou]

I just watched FOX....they said he was interviewed and is fluent in English, but apparently couldn’t in court...WTH?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The judge needs to be fired.

[GoldenPup]

If it was my kid he molested, he wouldn’t need an interpretor, he’d need an undertaker.

[khnyny]

Somehow the Court could not find an interpreter in three years, yet the Post could find three Vai interpreters with a few phone calls

I guess that says it all right there, doesn't it.

[TexasCajun]

Any lawyers wonder why they have a bad reputation!

What a scumbag, gets his child rapist off by scamming the court.

[Xenalyte]

This is an unbelievable story and was posted just once, yesterday, but I believe it is more than worth posting again.

Or you could have bumped the existing thread.

[LWalk18]

BTW, does anyone want to guess what the offical language of Liberia is?

[khnyny]

The news this morning said that he had been a student, and actually talked with the police in english.

That's correct. The initial interview by the police with the perp was conducted in English, and apparently, the suspect was quite proficient (at least until it went to trial).

[freekitty]

This woman is a sorry excuse for a judge. Hiding behind her made up ruling. She should be immediately taken off the bench. There is no excuse for this.

[khnyny]

LOL.

Well, yeah...see, the thing is, the court speaks “doublespeak”.

[khnyny]

This is a different news account from the story posted yesterday.

[elpadre]

I believe you will find that, although there are tribal languages, English is the official language of the country with all business and commerce being in the English language.

Can anyone confirm that????

[NoBullZone]

> Somehow the Court could not find an interpreter in three years

Why is it the responsibility of the court to find an interpreter? This needs to be nipped in the bud - English needs to be made officially the language of our legal system - you wanna live here? Learn English or find your own way around it.

[khnyny]

Ridiculous situation. The judge needs to be fired.

[Old Student]

“If it was my kid he molested, he wouldn’t need an interpretor, he’d need an undertaker.”

You know, I think that is totally the wrong attitude. What he should need is extensive reconstructive surgery, and years of rehabilitation. Not to mention a colostomy bag, and Foley catheter, and IV nourishment. Don’t kill them, maim them, so they have time to think about what they did wrong, and no physical capability to do anything about it.

I am getting really, REALLY TIRED of waste like this... /rant

[CholeraJoe]

Nearly every cab driver in DC is from Sub-Saharan Africa. Surely to goodness the prosecutor could have found one who spoke this man’s language.

[stuartcr]

Unfortunately, you’d then probably be the one on trial...

[Steamburg]

It concerns me that I follow your logic.

[btcusn]

If it was my kid he molested, he wouldn’t need an interpretor, he’d need an undertaker.

We think alike!(scary, isn’t it!!)
Jack

[JZelle]

The old Sammy Sosa defense.

[khnyny]

It’s much more effective (and legal) to go after the judge and overhaul our stupid legal sytems. It is a tedious, frustrating process to attempt to deal with a bureaucracy, but it’s all we’ve got.

From what’s been written about this case, the judge and the court handling this case are grossly negligent.

[khnyny]

This woman is a sorry excuse for a judge. Hiding behind her made up ruling. She should be immediately taken off the bench. There is no excuse for this.

It makes no sense, whatsoever.

[Biblebelter]

I will play the gender card. The responsibility for this travesty falls on two women. I remember when women professed feminism, and crimes of rape were taken seriously, to the point of missionary zeal. Obviously, bureaucratic laziness and judicial sloppiness are not gender specific and have replaced ANY feminist zeal these two scumbags might have ever had. I am no feminist. I am a gentleman and I think rape is a horrendous crime and the rape of child even more horrendous. Liberals have pretty much taken rape off the board of hot issues when they blindly ignored the history of a serial rapist, named Slick Willie.

[sr4402]

That's correct. The initial interview by the police with the perp was conducted in English, and apparently, the suspect was quite proficient (at least until it went to trial).

This is why English needs to be set as the default language so that their can be no abuse of justice like this. If English was the default language required for citizenship and the perpetrator spoke in English, there would have been no room for the Judge to let off this child rapist.

See what liberalism has brought us; just more and more degradation of the law. Remember, Bill Clinton as President said "it depends on what the definition of the word 'Is', 'Is'"

[rideharddiefast]

Any lawyers wonder why they have a bad reputation! What a scumbag, gets his child rapist off by scamming the court.

I would say scumbag judge. It is the lawyers job to get their defendant off. It is the judge's job to see that justice is done.

[GladesGuru]

“She should be immediately taken off the bench.”

Can’t be done - she is a member of two ‘priviliged classes’. She is female, and she is a lawyer.

[dennisw]

Loretta E. Knight (D)

Office Sought: Montgomery County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Age: 64
Residence: Germantown.
Education: Legal secretary certificate, Washington School for Secretaries; course work, National Center for State Courts.
Occupation: Deputy clerk and manager, civil division, Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Web site: http://www.lorettaknight.com
E-mail address: leknight4@msn.com

Elected offices/civic activities:

Member, NAACP, Northern Montgomery Women's Democratic Club, Montgomery County Agricultural Center; Grace United Methodist Church administrative board; past member, Germantown Citizens Association; past volunteer, American Red Cross Emergency Relief; past

 

Why should voters elect you?

"Directly applicable experience and accrued knowledge as deputy clerk make me the proven candidate, passionate to make the clerk's office the best it can be."

 

What do you think is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?

"The most urgent issue facing the clerk of court is to provide the public with easier access to court records and with safeguards against identity theft. In today's world of advanced technology, the clerk of the court must continue to progress toward a paperless courthouse. Currently, both the land records and the licensing department are close to being on the Internet completely. I want for everyone to be able to access the courthouse from the comfort of their own home or office and for attorneys to be able to save time and expense for their clients."

[khnyny]

According to the article:

“Knight said the county spent nearly $1 million on interpreters last year, 10 times the amount it spent in 2000. “It’s a constant struggle, and it is extremely expensive,” she said.”

This, imho, is a huge problem. Also, this inept, liberal county, Montgomery County, spent nearly $1 million on interpreters, and they still couldn’t get it right in this case? The WP found an interpreter with a couple phone calls.

Gross overspending and government incompetence at work with our tax dollars.

[Dandydoodley]

This judge gives validity to the phrase “stench from the bench” (ò¿ó)

[stephenjohnbanker]

BUMP

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Loretta E. Knight, the Circuit Court clerk responsible for finding interpreters, said her office searched exhaustively for a speaker of Vai, a tribal language spoken in West Africa. They contacted the Liberian Embassy, she said, and courts in all but three states. Linguists estimate that 100,000 people speak Vai, mostly in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

On his 630 WMAL radio show this morning, Chris Core found potential interpreters in about thirty seconds.

[weegee]

Meanwhile Tom DeLay has not seen his day in court yet either because the prosecutor is dragging his heels.

[weegee]

Maybe those interpreters weren’t diverse enough.

[subterfuge]

Obviously, the Judge and the Clerk think the child “had it coming to her.” It is they who will be responsible for the next brutal beating and rape the perp from Liberia commits.

[rock_lobsta]

There must be something in the water in Montgomery County.

First, we had the Dumbest. Police Chief. Ever.

Now, we have the Dumbest. Judge. Ever.

Jeez, couldn’t they at least deport the Liberian?

[khnyny]

Thanks for posting. Obviously, the other culprit that needs to be fired. I see she went to the Washington School for Secretaries, and received a Legal secretary certificate. I’m sorry, but this makes her qualified how? What an idiot.

That being said, I’ve had some friends who were Legal secretaries over the years, and they virtually could be the CEO of a company (and did run things for CEO’s in another career) and practically wrote the lawyers briefs themselves. I don’t think this lady falls into that category.

[southernerwithanattitude]

The first thing I would do is make him a gelding!{rusty skinning knife} Then move on to the things you referred to.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Fox News said they interviewed him by phone in English. They described the interview, but didn’t broadcast (probably it was given on condition that it not be broadcast). The guy wouldn’t deny committing the crime, just said “I said what I had to say” (which sounds to me like he meant he lied because that’s what he had to do to get off).

[Red in Blue PA]

O’Reilly should send Mr. T to this judge’s house.

[Red in Blue PA]

Apparently this chap went to high scool here and understands English perfectly well.

If this is true, both he and his lawyer should be tried for lying to the court. And then tried for raping this child.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I agree. The Second Amendment was intended to enable citizens to protect themselves against tyrannical government. It is the act of a tyrannical government to let a child rapist off without so much as a slap on the wrist, based on an obviously fabricated technicality. Somebody needs to protect this guy’s next little girl victim from the effects of this particular brand of government tyranny.

[GovernmentShrinker]

And the psychologist needs to be put on trial to, as she lied to the court. And then put the judge and the court clerk on trial, for falsely stating for the record that a Vai translator couldn’t be found.