|
|
Thursday, October 19
Atuhaire released for unknown reason
Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia -- A Ugandan Olympic athlete who had been
accused of sexual assault was freed Thursday (Wednesday night ET)
after Australian prosecutors dropped the charges.
Joe Atuhaire, a 22-year-old swimmer, was charged with having
sexual intercourse without consent with a 17-year-old girl near the
main Olympic site on Sept. 20. He faced a maximum term of 14 years
in jail if convicted.
Atuhaire fled to the central-southern city of Adelaide during
the Games, where he was arrested, extradited to Sydney and granted
bail at a previous court appearance.
He had been expected to enter a plea at Thursday's hearing, but
instead prosecutors told the Downing Center Local Court that the
charges had been dropped. They did not explain why.
Atuhaire was eliminated from competition on Sept. 16, the first
morning of the games. He was the slowest of 65 competitors in the
100-meter breaststroke.
Atuhaire was expected to return to Uganda.
|  | |
|
