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Torture Anime Not Admissible at Suspect's Kidnap-Rape Trial
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
21-year-old defendant Christina Regusters' viewing of Japanese anime depicting sexual torture will not be shown as evidence at her trial in Philadelphia. Regusters' is facing trial for kidnapping a five-year-old girl from Bryant Elementary School in west Philadelphia, blindfolding her, and raping her for 18 hours.
Assistant District Attorney Erin O'Brien said Regusters had searched for the anime just six hours before abducting the girl at 8:50 a.m. O'Brien argued that the only way to establish motive and intent was to show jurors the anime. Defense attorney W. Fred Harrison Jr. argued, "The sexual events that take place in these animated pictures, that's not what happened in this case."
Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey P. Minehart ruled the anime as inadmissible, stating, "I think we're stretching it to say ..., as horrid and as vulgar as these images may be, that they can then be used as proof that she sexually abused a complaining witness." The judge also stated the anime was not illegal in Pennsylvania.
Judge Minehart may change his mind about showing the anime in court if the defense implies Regusters is not sexually interested in girls or that other suspects may be involved in the incident.
Regusters is a former daycare worker and was previously accused of molesting a family member. Police believe she researched Muslim clothing to imitate the victim's mother, then told a substitute teacher she was taking the girl out for breakfast. The girl was able to lead police to her alleged abductor by describing details she heard while blindfolding, including a talking bird.
The girl was found the next morning, partially clothed under playground equipment. She told the man that found her, "I've been stolen." Now seven-years-old, the girl is expected to testify in court. The trial will be held next week.
Source: Associated Press via The Daily Mail
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