Haiti Judge Frees 8 of 10 Americans

Two will remain behind for further questioning
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 17, 2010 3:54 PM CST
Haiti Judge Frees 8 of 10 Americans
Laura Silsby, 40, of Meridian, Idaho, will remain behind for now.   (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A Haitian judge says he decided to free 8 of 10 Americans charged with child kidnapping after their parents testified they voluntarily handed their children over to the missionaries. Judge Bernard Saint-Vil says the 8 are free to leave today without bail or other conditions. He says he still wants to question group leader Laura Silsby and Charisa Coulter about their visit to Haiti in December before the earthquake.

Saint-Vil also asked for Coulter to be hospitalized because of her diabetes. The group, made up mostly of Baptists from Idaho, was caught trying to take 33 children out of the quake-stricken country late last month. It says it was on a mercy mission and had no intention of trafficking in children. (More Americans detained Haiti stories.)

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