A Virginia inmate that was released as part of the COVID-19 plan to keep prisoners safe from the virus, shot and killed the woman who accused him of rape last month.
The suspect, identified as Ibrahim E. Bouaichi, was indicted last year on charges for rape, strangulation, and abduction.
Given the serious nature of the incident, he was initially jailed without bond in Alexandria, local news affiliate ABC 7 reported.
But in the wake of the pandemic, lawyers for Bouaichi argued that for their client’s safety as well as their own safety it would be best to set him free on a $25,000 bond.
Circuit Court Judge Nolan Dawkins consented on the condition that the defendant would only leave his Maryland home to meet his attorneys or attend pretrial services.
Bouaichi, 33, didn’t follow the plan. Instead, he murdered the Venezuela woman who had testified against him back in December.
SEE ALSO: Ralph Northam’s Gun Control Agenda Takes Off as Virginia City Bans Guns
Attorneys for Bouaichi — Manuel Leiva and Frank Salvato — said in a statement that they were “certainly saddened by the tragedy both families have suffered here” and that they “were looking forward to trial. Unfortunately the pandemic continued the trial date by several months and we didn’t get the chance to put forth our case.”
Meanwhile, Judge Dawkins, who incidentally retired back in June, did not comment when contacted by The Washington Post.
After killing his accuser in late July, local police and federal marshals eventually spotted Bouaichi. He was in Prince George’s County last Wednesday. Following a pursuit that ended with Bouaichi crashing his car, the accused rapist shot himself.
Bouaichi later died from his injuries.
Tragically, Bouaichi isn’t the only inmate in Virginia to be released and then reoffend. Justin Wilson, 26, was set free back in April due to COVID-19 concerns. Mr. Wilson then went on to stab to death 63-year-old Edigio Lenzi in July.
It’s worth noting that none of the recent gun-control laws enacted by Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam prevented Bouaichi from shooting and killing his victim.
Having never hired a defense attorney, I don’t know; don’t they make a little extra getting some one out? Tremendous motivation for liberals, who benefit being bent on bending the system. There are no reasonable “bene’s” for the public.
A presumed innocent woman is dead from revenge, nearly proving the perp’s guilt, and the facilitating parties get what?
There was not long ago a similar instance in CA, prisoner released on COVID malarky and killed his accuser.
One recall effort was insufficient; there should be successive petitions without pause in both cases.
may the components of the justice system responsible for this get what they have coming to them
Dear Court Nolan Dawkins
How can you possibly be so stupid? I hope that someone makes you pay and pay dearly.
If the “shelter in place” directive was used in a number of states to prevent the spread of covid 19, then criminals should be safe while being locked up in jail/prison. Being a prisoner is about as ‘locked down’ as you can be. All that needed to be done was to stop all visitation with the prisoners or only have visitation through a glass window with no contact. The release of prisoners because of covid 19 makes no sense at all.
Stupid decisions produce stupid results. Those who aided and abetted the release of charged violent criminals should be also charged with criminal negligence and should pay civil awards to the surviving family members.
The lawyers and judge responsible for his release should be arrested and charged as accessory to murder. Just my opinion.
Sounds like a pretty crazy policy.. I mean, if nothing else dedicate a wing that’s “maybe not quite as sanitary”, allow certain inmates to contract it, and when it takes them out, figure they deserved a death sentence anyway. And this one was free! 😳
Those that facilitated these releases are as guilty as the perp himself. These people continue to violate the trust of all Americans and are literally getting away with murder.
“Bouaichi later died from his injuries.”
Glad to hear about this update!!!
Seems like it’s the only justice left in the world today…
This is another abortion of the US judicial system. I don’t understand how such a violent offender could have been released. America is obviously a great corporatocracy that values money ($25,000) over the safety of its citizens and residents.
“Okay, accused rapist scum, you’re released on bail which is an insane move for a suspect previously held without bail. However, we must create as much havoc as possible in these pre-election months. Therefore, if you double-secret promise to stay home unless your legal team requires you elsewhere, we’ll let you go free with an embarrassing amount of bail. If The People of that community don’t demand changes and by the way, investigations into that “legal” process, they should not rise and stand on their feet but rather remain on their knees.
Defense lawyers are lefties! They lie to get their client out of jail! There are a lot of lefty judges on the bench, that are so stupid it’s a wonder how they got to be the age they are! Prison is supposed to be bad, it’s for criminals! Sue the shit out of the attorney’s and the dumb ass judge! The sooner we make the justice system accountable, the sooner they will build more prisons! Either that or let the people dole out the punishment. That would free up space in the prisons for the lawyers and judges that can’t seem to get it right.
The problem here folks isn’t America…is Liberal Judges Appointed by Barry O’Blowme & Defense Lawyers who are smart enough to take advantage of this Stacked Liberal Deck. Re-Read the statement from the Rapist Sock Cuckers Lawyers…they don’t even pretend to have any grief for the Victim or her Family! Their strongest remark was about regretting that they couldn’t present their case…HUH? Are you Phucking kidding me? They’re ALL DEAD…are y’all associated with the “Borg Law Group”? Geezzzz! You know the saddest part about this whole incident…if this Prick hadn’t used a Firearm, we would have never heard one word about it on the National Nightly Fake News! Fungus Out-
The suspects attorney and the judge should be charged with murder!
The judge should be sued. Period. How clueless can you be?
And Virginia government officials will blame the gun.
If the rape suspect murdered the poor woman by strangulation the guvamint lackeys will still blame a firearm.
If masks work so great, why aren’t the prisoners made to use them instead of being let out?
Were it not for double standards, libt@rds would have no standards at all.
Love it! I’ll have to remember that one!
Let me get this straight: you commit a crime, and they let you out cuz you might get a disease while serving a sentence for a crime you committed….yeah makes sense in America 2020
Wow, good people suffering cause they’re trying to save criminal lives. What has America come to?