Detained Americans’ lawyer: Haiti parents tell judge they willingly handed over children
By APTuesday, February 9, 2010
Haiti parents testify they gave kids to Americans
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A lawyer for 10 U.S. missionaries detained in Haiti says parents of the children they’re suspected of kidnapping told a judge they freely handed over their kids.
Aviol Fleurant argues the parents’ testimony means no law was broken and “we can’t talk any more about trafficking of human beings.”
Fleurant said Tuesday he’s “confident” the judge will dismiss the case.
Prosecutors are to make their final argument Wednesday on whether to pursue the charges.
The Americans are accused of trying to take 33 children into the neighboring Dominican Republic without proper documentation.
The Baptist missionaries say they were heading to a Dominican orphanage following Haiti’s devastating quake, and had only good intentions.
