I expect this will indeed be overturned. The defendant’s lack of a speedy trial was due first and foremost to his own fraudulently-based demand for an interpreter. Therefore, despite the additional error of the trial court in allowing this blatant fraud to delay the trial, the primary cause of the delay was the defendant’s fraudulent representations to the court, and he should not avoid trial on account of the delay caused by himself.
The Washington Post reported, however, that Kanneh had waived his rights to a speedy trial.