18 March 2020
Coronavirus: Judge says trials could be made
'unviable' as rape case is delayed
A rape trial has been delayed due to a lack of Chinese interpreters as a
result of coronavirus.
Jing Ming Jiang was
due to stand trial yesterday but proceedings could not take place as no
translators were available. […]
At Hove Crown Court,
Judge Paul Tain made the decision to extend Jiang’s custody time.
He said: “There are
normally innumerable translators for this language.
“The court found two
translators, each of whom dropped out. We have made further efforts to contact
all the local translators, but these efforts have been unsuccessful.
“I’m satisfied that
the nature of the present pandemic, which could easily over the next few days
make almost all trials non-viable, that it is good and sufficient cause to
extend custody.”
Judge Tain adjourned the trial until April 27, but
said an earlier date may be possible if bail trials are cancelled due to the
virus.
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