Testimony Ends in McMartin Child-Abuse Hearing

As the last witness in the McMartin Pre-School molestation case stepped down from the witness stand Wednesday, ensuring that the 17-month preliminary hearing will end this week, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced that it will not prosecute additional suspects in the McMartin and Manhattan Ranch preschool cases.

Roger J. Gunson, head deputy in the district attorney’s sexual crimes and child abuse division, said, “Unless there is some significant development that we are unaware of at this time, there will be no additional filings.” The Times reported in early October that no further charges were expected.

Gunson said, however, that a related case is still under review: that of a baby-sitting service to which parents of children attending the McMartin school were referred.

Reasons Detailed

In memos made public by the district attorney, authorities detailed their reasons for dropping further investigation of suspects Charles Buckey, father of two McMartin defendants and husband of a third, and Rachid Aboufadel (also known as Ray Fadel), a Manhattan Beach grocer. They also explained why they will not prosecute three teachers at the nearby Manhattan Ranch Pre-School.

The reports said there is insufficient evidence to warrant criminal proceedings against specific individuals. The number of potential witnesses has dwindled and those who remain either do not remember enough or have made inconsistent statements and identifications. The reports did note, however, that “strong medical evidence” exists indicating that the children had been molested.

Meanwhile, in the McMartin hearing, defense attorney Daniel Davis finished questioning two medical experts--both of whom testified that they would not draw definitive conclusions from photographs about whether a child had been molested, but would want to examine the child and take a history, or at least have data provided by the examining physician.

Closing Arguments

Municipal Judge Aviva K. Bobb said both sides will have an opportunity to present closing arguments, after which Bobb predicted that she will decide “if not within five minutes, within several days” whether the evidence is sufficient to bind over any or all of the seven defendants for trial in Superior Court.