Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 34

2-LOCAL THE OAKLAND TRIBUNE THURSDAY. January 17. 2002 Court to examine interpreters vole in sex slave trial SnVFWHTHt OAKLAND A. judge Wednesday ordered several poops Involved In a tanged Berkeley sex and Immfgatfcin case to describe exactty-when they employed a bmgiagr Interpreter who allegedly urged vie-, ttmstoUetotnveattgtors. Federal Magistrate Ji Wayne D.

Brasil Issued between the vtodms and hnestt' gitors, lawyers and counselors, tnrtudtng the American CMl fjhprWwi Union, Jay Kuo. a lawyer who rep- resents die ACLU, said he did not view the move as a setback. But he expressed appointment that the Judge la-' chided In hla order the actions of a aecond interpreter who walked on die case. Rao Is accused of Kuo noted. In- order at the request oTattoneys representing Vjjay Kumar Laki- reddy and Prasad Laklreddy.

dndlng the i reddy and Prasad Laklreddy. eluding the The brothers are die adult sons of Laklreddy Ball Reddy, a wealthy Berkeley landlord who, waa convicted test year of die- pally brtndnf teen-arse Shis from India to the Unitea States for cheap labor, and sex. The brothers hoe charges of conspiracy. rape and witness tam-In connection with their other Interpreter to an Invasion of privacy, he said. The role of the Interpreters could prove Important as the case progeaaea.

If the. brothers case goes to trial, their lawyers mlgit try to show a Jury the governments Investigation was flawed because of Rao's alleged Mas against the brothers. In June 2001, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office revealed Out Rao might have urged victims to exaggerate their stories of abuse ana lie. Cotslrilos filed several subpoenas to try to get various goups Involved in the case to describe their contact with Rao.

The results of the order and of Interviews with the wfll-be discussed In court In about six weeks. 'a case. Outside court defense attorney George Cotslrilos, who represents Vgay Kumar Laklreddy, said he was pleased with the order because It wlD help him track down evidence about Interpreter Urns Rao. Rao, like the seven victims described by federal Invest tors, speaks Tefogu. She as-' stated In A PfilE OFFICIAL checks a spot where contractors working on Alameda Power Telecom's cable system punctured a four-inch underground gas line at the intersection of Webster Street and Central Avenue in Alameda on Wednesday.

Two dozen businesses in Neptune Plaza and surrounding areas were evacuated about 11 a.m. while crews worked to stop the leak. Part of Central was also dosed. No one was injured and nearby schools were not affected. The scene was cleared by about 2 p.m., a fire official said.

Videotape shows alleged double-murderers confession Assistant District Attorney Morris Jacobson Is seeking the death penalty for Crawford hi the double murder trtaL 'A vary bad dream 1 want It to Just be a very bad dream," Crawford said during a turning point In a discourse with detectives Monte Decoste and Casey Nice of the Alameda County Sheriffs Department the morning alter the April 15, 1996 slaying. killed them." -Crawford begn the lengthy Interview asserting be was unaware of what happened to 20-year-old Williams and 16-year-old Reyel Crawford spoke of having spent sleepless days using a purified form of methamphetamtne. and of not clearty recollecting recent Sony television from Reyels unde and aunt He got same of the cash netted by pawning the television, Crawford said. Crawford complained of having to care for Reyd and Williams as If they were his children. He said he felt they owed him a couple hundred dollars for meals, hotels and other Incidentals.

Grasping at popularity "I thnmflit rd be doing my friends a big frvw If I killed Mark and Vangke," fawfoiri fad in recorded ronfri iwu. thought It was the right thing to do. Everybody would be happy. Crawford shot Wiliams and Reyd with a- semi-automatic shotgun mat -was among the' weapons stolen from ReyeTaimde. Those Crawford ostensibly thought would befriend him for eUmlna moochersT shunned Mm Instead.

felt me fay ntyseft "Everybody did." Crawford waa stopped at a traffic tar Hayward about 8:20 the the killing! when he flipped a middle finger at a police fleer and then sped away. The ensuing chase ended with Crawford crashing the truck. Crawford Initially spoke with a foke Caribbean accent, according to officers at. the crash scene. He reportedly claimed diplomatic Immunity and contended falsely that his lather was a police ditet Jacobson will "continue piwiHng his case In Homer's courtroom Tuesday iqomlng.

Crawford ebrtnmd memory lapses -minimised his role fat nefarious undertakings and told of drug traffickers wanting Williams dead. Crawford had talked to Decoste for some time before Nice leaned forward and stated the evasion needed to stop "you know what happened." Crawford balked briefly, then told of picking Reyel and Wllllama up at a Taco Bravo restaurant near the South Lake Mobile Home Park far Fremont and taking them to a scenic turnout on Morrison Canyon Road about 6:30 pm. Crawford explained he used a truck he and the young couple stolen from Reyel's unde's' home In San Jose. Crawford recounted how the trio also stole 0ms and a 32-Inch STMFWRIIBI OAKLAND Charles Crawford went from swearing he knew nothing of the late of a pair otyoung friends to describing how he executed them In the hill above Fremont as a favor to all who knew the couple. A transformation that ended with Crawford sobbing and telling of shooting Evangeline Reyel and Mark Williams dead was captured on a video-.

tape played for Jurors In Judge Jeffrey Homer's courtroom Wednesday. 'There Is something hi that tape for. everybody," said defease attorney Al-fons. Wagner, who has promised to 1 show methampheiamlne triggered the slayings. Xanthos will honor 4 youths in Alameda Torch: Journey will end in Salt Lake City on Feb.

8 Continued from LOCAL-1 Oakland. 'She doled out money to her brother, and tried to ensure Derick Lovlngs had things he needed. FROM STAFF RETORTS ALAMEDA To reward the' achievements of four young people tar Alameda, the nonprofit organlxatloa Xanthos will present community service awards at a ceremony tonight Former Alameda High School students Daniel Foster and Frandaco Salfaus, along with Andy Choi a current Alameda High atudent will receive the Nefisao Youth Awards for Community Service. Justin Harrison from file HOME Project will also receive the award. The recipients are being honored for their Involvement with fire HOME Project a youth-oriented nonprofit organization.

The McCuIlen Youth Court, the Coalition of Alamcdan Racial Equality, the California Highway Patrol Ekplorer Progam, conflict mediation and numerous school clubs and sports. "I sin so Impressed fay the dedication to community service that Is evident In the activities of. these youth," said Xanthos president Rev. Larry Schulz. "If inspiring to see how many young people are giving back to their community." Continued from LOCAL-1 was nominated for her work with Healing Waters, a nonprofit group dial takes people with HIV or cancer rafilng, back packing andskllng trips.

namnnte, 31, said she is so Into the Olympics" that she and a friend rode bikes from Oregon to see the 1994 Atlanta games. Mark EvangeUdes, 36, a General Motors SfUes manngw from Albany, was chosen for hla Involvement with a foundation that benefits children with brain tumors. The Gus Foundation was named alter EvangeUdes' nephew, who died a few years ago. Also scheduled to carry the torch are Joyce Alvafotto of Alameda. Han Blederman of Karen and Michael Fee of Oakland, Noah Fine Na- definitely feel honored picked, said Valentine, 49, Castro Valley.

Valentine to a life-long athlete who competes in the World Police and Fire Games, where he holds records In several track and field events. He qualified to try out for the U.S. Olympic track and field squad in the 1970s, but didn't make die -team. Valentine, said he wanted to run- to contribute something to the community. Anything that deala with the youth, I donate my time and talent to the cause, he said.

About 11,500 people will cany the torch on Us 13500-mile Journey across 46 U.S. states. The trip began In Atlanta. Ga. In November and wlU end In Salt Lake City on Feb.

8. thd of Albany and Karen Brink Hiatt of Oakland. The torch will follow a route starting downtown and the edges of Chinatown Lake Merritt before heading east to 51st Street The relay will turn west on Telegraph Avenue and run down Broadway and other major streets until the relay ends -at Jack London Square. San Francisco Sheriff's Deputy Maurice Valentine, who coaches young members of Oaklands PAL In track and field, will anchor the run by bringing the torch from Seventh Street to fiw waterfront about 1:40 pjn. From there, the torch will board a schooner and set sail for San Francisco.

Tm getting butterflies as (the relay) gets closer and closer. I i -1 A 9 i i i The ceremony Is at 5:30 pjn. Xanthos is a nonprofit organ- Thursday In the board room of ballon providing social services Xanthos, 2325 dement Ave. In to youth, famfltes and children Alameda. In Alameda and Oakland.

Derick Loving! when he killed his sister, who was pressuring him to remove his belongings from the gunge of her Oakland house, according to Investigators. The brother wrapped his sister's body in plastic, added with duct tape, then left Regina corpse partially covered with debris in the basement of' her home on the 800 block of Brockhunt Street, police fanes-flgaforssaid. 'Loving! trial on a first degree' murder to start May 7 when be leapt to his feet and told Conger he was guilty of the crime. In a letter written cell that Conger to let liim switch his plea back to hmOcent, Months of courtroom wrangling ensued. A Jury was even Impaneled 1 to decide 'whether Loving! was sane.

"it Just goes to show what can happen when someone Is Intent on playing games," 1 Hartman said. TTiank God for the Judge's patVnf and fly paHmw offly victlm's'rfomlly and loved ones. Justice was finally served." ATUJXSililXsXN Payton: Other pollution returns; too MliLtP DEALERS and otfm for vnUlon of taw. torn ofatmd tom gownmenl seizure action fl go up lor bUvffiolw meniMnteiMindudMtiebuk of lairai 1ctSft major financial meltdown. ftnah nflWala might way they were damned if they did and damned if they didn't And If true; they were.

That's the problem with large companies and Interests giving huge amounts of money to lawmakers. It corrupts the process, one way or the other And Enron isn't the only issue that has returned us to a state of normalcy. Last the Rush administration filed a brief in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals trying to over-. turn a federal Judge's rullng that blocked oil exploration off the central CaUfornia coast Admin-.

Istration representatives aigued the Judge was Incorrect when she ruled file leases for explore- fory drilling qould only be ex- tended with California's Also last week, news agencies reported federal regulators have recommended the White House relax air pollution regulations that require upgades of pollution control equipment when power plants modernize or ex- pand. Earlier this week. Bush officials reversed rules hull- tuted under President BUI Clinton that required developers to replace decimated wetlands on a one-to-one basis. Conflicts of interest Big 1 1 moneys Influence In Wash-. ington.

Shredded V. The erosion of environmental -protections. We seem to be back to normaL What a relief Brenda Paytons cobam appears on Tuesdays, 1 Turn- and Sundays. Continued from LOCAL-1 money; his wife to on the board of Enron and Is named as a de-. fepdant In one of the Investors' suits against the company.

The entire Department of Justice office In Hoipton recused Itself from the case because of various connections to Enron. makes you wonder where did Ennui end and where did the Washington administration begin? Or can we tell? may be an interesting twist to the extensive connections. If Bush administrators actually declined the company's requests for hdp as thry elaim, their dedskm had major ramifications for Investors, employees and possibly the larger economy. Because of thdrfear of charges of conflict of interest, they fouled to act to try to averts f- i -L OVER 100 LOTS TO BE SOLO! Platinum, 18K 14K gold bracs-tots, rings, nscklacss, psndante and pins. Thraiis bracstots 2ct 22d 20ct diamond nsddacs In Platinum, 58d ThnzanHs nscktacs wHh diamonds, OoMCoins.TahltianPsarts, Opals, Largo Emsralds, Rubios, 8apphirss, Amattiysts, Swiss mads gold watchss, Estate Jswslry, rars grssn gamsts, Wadding bands, bsllailna rings, to-psi and many, many (DiKjMAv iiasuiaav Loving vowed to' appeal flie Among the factors that contributed to the length of Loving utenM was his prior comte tlon for attempted msn-.

slaughter. Loving! stabbed a girlfriend In the neck In. 1983,. according to court records. In a letter to The Tribune re-: grdffta that convlcdoa.

Loving! wrote was iivnuwi iwww he noticed the woman amorously Involved with another-man bHi bathroom. approvaL, Jti Ranssom Hotel Berkeley Harma 200 Marins BhrJ 'WiwuwimroswBTUMswmra i A :.7 SL Mb.