PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A judge has declined to allow Philadelphia prosecutors to introduce evidence that a woman charged with abducting and raping a kindergartner had viewed online cartoons depicting sexual torture.
The judge on Thursday ruled out use of the Japanese anime videos at trial. However, the judge says the jury can hear accusations that 21-year-old defendant Christina Regusters had molested a young relative.
Prosecutors say the graphic computer searches counter potential defense arguments that men were involved in the violent sexual attack on the 5-year-old girl in January 2013.
Police say Regusters donned a Muslim garment and veil to pose as the girl’s mother and take her from school.
Prosecutors say Regusters had also done computer searches about Muslim garb and destroying DNA.
The trial has been delayed until Monday.