PORTLAND, Maine — Prosecutors seeking to try a Somali refugee as an adult for allegedly raping a 50-year-old woman ran into a problem in court: The alleged victim identified a court interpreter as her attacker.
The Portland Press Herald says the courtroom fell silent Monday. After a recess, the woman walked closer to the defense table and identified the defendant as her assailant.
A judge in July had transferred the case of Mohammed Mukhtar of Portland to juvenile court.
Prosecutors had said Mukhtar was born on Jan. 1, 1994, making him 18 at the time of the crime. But Mukhtar’s attorney successfully argued he was born on Oct. 25, 1994, making him 17. Prosecutors are now seeking to have the case transferred to adult court because of the seriousness of the crime.
Does she get to guess until she picks out the one they want?
throw the case out the court room door, for good. the lady had her chance to properly Id her perp… she lost that chance, you can”t get a re do on that one!!!. .mistaken Identity is serious stuff!!! people in prison to this day from the exact same thing!!!!
I agree. 100%. Kinda fishy that AFTER they took a recces, her memory was magically restored. Or.. if her lawyer whispered in her ear “OOPS!” Wrong person.. I’m amazed.
This kid is getting screwed.
Is she related to the poll worker who was suspicious of the Somali women?
Throw the case out….she can’t just point willy nilly at someone and say…him!
WTH is Wrong With this Picture, Its Not Him! Let Him Go!!! WTH Are You Trying To Do ? Railroad This Man? GET REAL!! Ennie Meenie Minnie Moe ? Right?
Do you think she had the presence of mind to memorize the looks of his face while being raped? There may be other evidence. But if not I agree he walks,
Maybe his next victim will get it right, 2 to the head!
Where’s the DNA?
Science doesn’t lie.
My guess here is that unless there is additional evidence, such as DNA or another witness, confession to a friend, etc. it will be hard to get a conviction. As to the mistaken identity, being raped has to be extremely traumatic, and relying solely on a victim’s ability to identify the attacker under those circumstances has to be dicy at best. Hopefully in the end, justice will be served.
is there any dna?
It was him,no it was him,no it was him,maybe it was him……
I would have paid money to see the look on the court interpreter’s face when this woman pointed him out as the person who raped her.
Deport him and be done with it.