Teacher of Boy in Liberian Rape Case Tells Court the Boy Had Behavioral Problems

In a court appearance yesterday, a 10-year-old Liberian boy accused in the gang rape of an 8-year-old girl cried as his teacher testified that he was a bad student. During the court appearance, Toya Abrams, the boy's second-grade teacher at Camelview Elementary School in Phoenix, told a judge that the...

By James King

September 29, 2009

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In a court appearance yesterday, a 10-year-old Liberian boy accused in the gang rape of an 8-year-old girl cried as his teacher testified that he was a bad student.

During the court appearance, Toya Abrams, the boy's second-grade teacher at Camelview Elementary School in Phoenix, told a judge that the boy rarely did his homework and had various behavioral problems that included frequent fights with other students.

Abrams testimony is part of hearings to determine whether the 10-year-old is competent to stand trial, despite two mental-health officials determining that he's not.

During his teacher's testimony, the boy put his face on the desk and started sobbing.

Of the four accused of the rape, the 14-year-old has been charged as an adult, the 13-year-old is expected to be charged as an adult, and the 9-year-old has been found incompetent to stand trial.

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