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Castro stops Taitano trial pending OAG appeal
The CNMI Supreme Court has stopped the jury trial that was supposed to start Monday in the case against a man who is accused of attempting to sexually assault his 21-year-old godson.
Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro issued Friday an order granting the CNMI government’s request to stay Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho’s decision to exclude the testimony of the alleged victim.
In a one-page order, Castro said the CNMI raised serious questions concerning the exclusion of the alleged victim’s testimony and that the balance of hardships tip sharply in the government’s favor.
Castro said the 14-day stay would be lifted if the lower court grants the government’s motion to reconsider the exclusion of the testimony.
Camacho ordered the exclusion of the testimony of the alleged victim and the mother in separate orders on Wednesday and Thursday last week, saying that prosecutors of the Office of the Attorney General appeared to have discouraged the alleged victim from speaking with defense attorneys.
Camacho had said that government representatives must maintain a strictly neutral position, both in words and conduct, concerning a witness’ right to either agree to or decline defense interviews.
The Office of the Attorney General appealed Camacho’s order. Chief Prosecutor Brian P. Flaherty and assistant attorney general Clayton J. Graef filed a notice on Friday in Superior Court of the government’s intent to pursue an appeal with the CNMI Supreme Court and have Camacho’s order reversed.
Former Rota liaison employee Allan A. Taitano, 44, is facing charges that he attempted to sexually assault his then 21-year-old godson inside a vehicle in an open field in As Lito. The victim allegedly managed to run away and hide in the jungle for several hours.
Taitano pleaded not guilty.
