Liberian official arrives to discuss rape case

PHOENIX - A Liberian diplomat arrived in Phoenix Wednesday to meet with everyone involved in the alleged rape of an 8-year-old Liberian refugee girl.

Edwin Sele touched down at Sky Harbor Airport hours after two of the four suspects in the case, also Liberian refugees, appeared in Maricopa County Juvenile Court. Judges said it was up to attorneys whether the suspects could meet with Sele.

Sele said he wanted to meet with the Liberian community in Phoenix, and also the victim and the suspects.

"I'm a father, I'm a grandfather, I wouldn't want this to happen to my child, and Liberians don't think that way," Sele said, refuting reports that rape is condoned in Liberia and the victim often is blamed.

The young rape suspects, in handcuffs and shackles, went before separate judges, who ordered them kept in custody while the crime is investigated further.

One of the boys slouched in his oversized chair and was expressionless for most of the hearing. But, he began crying when Judge Aimee Anderson told him she was proud of his accomplishments while he was in custody and that she realized it was tough for him to be detained. The boy's age is uncertain because of paperwork discrepancies; he is either 9 or 10 years old.

A 9-year-old boy charged in the case appeared before another judge.

The two judges left prosecutors the option of changing sexual assault charges against the boys to sexual conduct with a minor.

The boys will return to court Aug. 18 for a mental competency hearing.

The court proceedings revealed the two boys are cousins and that their parents have returned to Africa. Other family members were in court, but decided not to speak to reporters and were escorted out by security personnel. One of the uncles drove toward reporters with horn blaring and stopped just short of the pack to pick up family members.

A third suspect, 14 years old, has been charged as an adult, and prosecutors moved this week to have a fourth suspect, 13 years old, also tried as an adult.

The father of the alleged victim said Tuesday that he knew nothing about the ambassador's visit and that he had no opinion about trying the suspects as adults.

"I have nothing to say," he told News/Talk 92-3 KTAR.

Martha Riveria, who lived next door to the 13-year-old suspect, did have a comment.

"I'm so proud justice is served. She's a little girl and she deserves to be protected and if parents are not there to do it, justice is doing what needs to be done."

Riveria said the 13-year-old should be tried as an adult.

"At age 13, you already know what you're doing, what is wrong and what is right."

Riveria said the suspect's family moved out of the complex last weekend.

The rape was not reported for a week and officials said cultural differences caused the victim's family to blame her instead of her attackers.

Sele said the Liberian government does not condone rape, as some media reports have said.

"We think this is a special, isolated case," he said, adding, "We are very concerned about the well-being of the 8-year-old girl, who only is a baby."

The suspects all are Liberian refugees, like the victim.

Police said the four boys lured the girl to an empty storage shed July 16 with the promise of chewing gum, then restrained her and took turns raping her.

The suspects were arrested July 21.

The 14-year-old faces charges of kidnapping, sexual assault, attempted sexual conduct with a minor and four counts of sexual conduct with a minor. His arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 10.

The case ignited an international outcry after Phoenix police reported the girl's parents said they were ashamed of her and didn't want her back, which led Child Protective Services to take custody of her.

The family's pastor says the father's statements were all a misunderstanding resulting from a language barrier and that the family desperately wants her back.

(Copyright 2008 Bonneville International Corporation. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.)