mysteriew
A diamond in process
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Oswaldo Martinez's disabilities may save his life.
In February the illegal immigrant from El Salvador was charged with raping and killing a 16-year-old James City County girl. But a few days ago, one of Martinez's defense attorneys, Beau Webb, learned that medical experts for both the defense and the prosecution have determined he's incompetent to stand trial because of severe hearing impairments and an inability to communicate.
Webb thinks a trial is probably out of the question for at least a few years.
Martinez is deaf, mute, illiterate and knows no formal sign language. He's being held at Central State Hospital, and Webb thinks he'll end up at Western State Hospital, where he can get intensive daily sign language instruction.
http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-50321sy0jul18,0,1150430.story?coll=dp-headlines-topnews
In February the illegal immigrant from El Salvador was charged with raping and killing a 16-year-old James City County girl. But a few days ago, one of Martinez's defense attorneys, Beau Webb, learned that medical experts for both the defense and the prosecution have determined he's incompetent to stand trial because of severe hearing impairments and an inability to communicate.
Webb thinks a trial is probably out of the question for at least a few years.
Martinez is deaf, mute, illiterate and knows no formal sign language. He's being held at Central State Hospital, and Webb thinks he'll end up at Western State Hospital, where he can get intensive daily sign language instruction.
http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-50321sy0jul18,0,1150430.story?coll=dp-headlines-topnews