“... very difficult to come up with a defense”.
Gee, ya think?! I am surprised that their attorney actually came out and said they knew her age and a defense was difficult. I am trying to imagine this child testifying in detail as to what happened to her in a courtroom. I hope she is a strong little girl... sounds like she is going to have to be. Just a thought.
There’s no way this case ever gets to a jury. The sentencing ranges on these crimes are so wide and there are enough people involved in various degrees of criminal culpability that the lesser involved will testify against the more culpable and the dominoes will fall.
I’m guessing it’s part of the strategy so that later on, the case can be challenged and tossed?
Some times a lawyer gets swaggering clients that bragged about what they did all over town.
In that case, a retroactive attempt to claim ignorance hurts the case in court far more than it can help.