Haitian judge to free 8 of 10 Americans detained in Haiti
A Haitian judge said eight of the 10 U.S. missionaries arrested on charges of child kidnapping three weeks ago would be released Wednesday, while the other two will face additional questioning, Reuters reported.
Only Laura Silsby, the leader of the group, and Charisa Coulter, will be held for further investigation, Judge Bernard Saint-Vil told Reuters.
One of 10 American Missionaries detained in Haiti was taken to a hospital Wednesday, two sources said.
A source inside the judicial headquarters told the Press that the woman is a diabetic and is in a “lot of pain.”
The Americans face charges of kidnapping and criminal association for trying to take 33 children out of Haiti after the nation’s January 12 earthquake.
A decision on whether bail will be granted for the American missionaries was apparently delayed earlier this week by quake-induced electricity problems at the courthouse. Prosecutors said they couldn’t print out their recommendation for the judge to review as scheduled for Monday.
And a lawyer for nine of the defendants, Aviol Fleurant, complained that Haitian police were restricting his visits to the Americans. “The lawyers are only being allowed in for three or five minutes,” he said.
The missionaries, most from two Baptist churches in Idaho, are accused of trying to take 33 Haitian children to the Dominican Republic on Jan. 29 without proper documents.
They say they were on a humanitarian mission to rescue child quake victims by taking them to a hastily prepared orphanage in the Dominican Republic and have denied accusations of trafficking.
Examining Judge Bernard Saint-vil told the Press that he would make a decision regarding bail on Wednesday. His decision on whether to grant bail will be final.
Group leader Laura Silsby originally said they were taking only orphaned and abandoned children, but reporters found that several of the children were handed over to the group — willingly — by their parents, who said the hoped the Baptists would give them a better life.
The group also has been embarrassed by revelations that a man who briefly served as their legal adviser and spokesman in the Dominican Republic is wanted on people smuggling charges in the United States and El Salvador.
Meanwhile, a U.S.-based lawyer for four of the detainees said his legal team is working on a plan to safely “extract” the prisoners, “I am concerned for their safety once they are released,” said Caleb Stegall, a Topeka, Kansas, lawyer who represents Drew Culberth, Steve McMullen, Paul Thompson and Silas Thompson.
