John Hutson, a law school professor and dean, who testified before Congress about military prisoner abuse, told jurors Hana and her adopted brother Immanuel were "unquestionably tortured." (KIRO 7)
Tadias Magazine
News Update
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Mount Vernon, Washington – An expert on torture testified Friday in the homicide-by-abuse trial of Larry and Carri Williams who are accused of abusing their two adopted children from Ethiopia, Hana and Immanuel, and causing the death of Hana.
13-year-old Hana Alemu (Hana Williams) was found dead on May 12, 2011 in the family’s backyard in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. She died of hypothermia, which doctors say was hastened by malnutrition and a stomach condition.
“In my judgment, it’s not a close case,” said John Hutson, taking the witness stand on day-six of the trial. The law school professor and dean, who had previously testified before Congress about military prisoner abuse, added: “They both were unquestionably tortured.”
The couple are also charged with first-degree manslaughter in Hana’s death, and with first-degree assault in connection with the alleged abuse of Immanuel. They have pleaded not guilty.
Hana and Immanuel were adopted from Ethiopia in 2008.
Watch: Witness Testifies Adopted children were ‘tortured’ (KIRO 7 Eyewitness News)
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Related:
UPDATE From Williams Trial: Adopted Son Testifies Mother, Siblings Mocked Hana
Hana’s Adopted Brother Testifies About Abuse as Williams Trial Continues
Williams trial therapist: Boy has post-traumatic stress disorder (The Skagit Valley Herald)
Girl’s autopsy shows signs of beatings, hypothermia, malnutrition (KOMO News)
Washington State: Trial Begins In Starvation Death Of Hana Alemu (Hana Williams)
Tesfaye Girma Deboch: Friends Seek Closure in WSU PhD Student’s Drowning Case (TADIAS)
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