A defendant facing three sexual assault charges had his court case postponed using Google Translate by a judge at Guildford Magistrates’ Court. Qais Al-Aswad, 26, was awaiting sentencing for the charges involving three women. During the hearing, District Judge Julie Cooper, attending via videolink, decided to adjourn the case after being informed that a prison visit was not possible for a pre-sentence report.
Despite the attempt to bring the defendant to court, it was revealed that there was no Arabic interpreter available. To communicate the adjournment decision, the judge instructed the court clerk to use Google Translate to convey the message to the defendant.
The defendant, accompanied by a prison officer, struggled to provide his date of birth when asked, prompting the clerk to use Google Translate to clarify the situation. The court scheduled the next hearing for October 22 at Staines Magistrates’ Court. Al-Aswad had previously resided in a Surrey hotel that faced protests over housing asylum-seekers.
In a separate incident, Allen Gould, 60, from Pennsylvania, was arrested for the alleged murder of his wife, Anna Maciejewska, who disappeared in 2017. Gould faces charges including first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Anna, a Polish native who moved to the US in 1997 and married Gould in 2006, was reported missing by a co-worker. Evidence suggests that her routine ceased on March 29, with the last known contact on March 28, two weeks before Gould reported her disappearance.
For personalized news, select Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News. Please be aware that we and our partners use cookies to enhance your site experience and provide personalized ads. You can manage your data preferences by clicking the appropriate button at the bottom of the page. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies as outlined in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.