Another disturbing instance of courts' inability to understand language problems

http://www.suntimes.com/news/24817562-761/language-barrier-led-to-confusion-in-dismissed-rape-case-woman-says.html

Stumbling over a defense attorney’s questions after revealing intimate details of a rape she said she suffered in August at the hands of a Belmont-Cragin man, a Hispanic woman testified in front of a Cook County judge last summer that she didn’t fully understand English.

The attorney cross-examining the Spanish-speaking woman asked if it would be easier for her to answer with an interpreter, and she said, “Yes, please.” Instead, Cook County Judge Laura M. Sullivan asked the defense attorney to rephrase the question, and the Sept. 17 preliminary hearing continued, according to a transcript obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

When it ended, records show, the judge found there was no probable cause and effectively dismissed a criminal sexual-assault charge against Luis Pantoja, 25. He was released from the Cook County jail the same day, authorities said, but on Tuesday, he was ordered held again in lieu of $2.5 million bail.

Prosecutors now say he’s responsible for the brutal sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl last month on the Northwest Side.

Please read the whole article.

Two guilty over abusive tweets to Caroline Criado-Perez

Two guilty over abusive tweets to Caroline Criado-Perez:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25641941

Two people have pleaded guilty to sending "menacing" tweets to feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez.

Isabella Sorley, 23, of Newcastle, and John Nimmo, 25, of South Shields, admitted at Westminster Magistrates' Court sending the messages over a public communications network.
They will be sentenced on 24 January.
Ms Criado-Perez, of Rutland, received abuse after her campaign for a woman to appear on a bank note resulted in Jane Austen being selected for the £10 note.
The 29-year-old said the case was a "small drop in the ocean" compared to the abuse she and other women received online.
'I will find you' The court heard that one tweet from Sorley started with an expletive and continued: "Die you worthless piece of crap." She was also told to "go kill yourself".

 Caroline Criado-Perez successfully campaigned for a woman to be featured on bank notes

She also sent the message to Ms Criado-Perez: "I've only just got out of prison and would happily do more time to see you berried!!"
In a separate set of abusive messages Nimmo told Ms Criado-Perez to "shut up" and made references to rape followed by "I will find you (smiley face)".