Teens who raped unconscious woman have sentencing delayed due to issue getting interpreter
Two sick rapists who repeatedly attacked a woman despite her being almost unconscious won’t be sentenced for THREE months over an interpreter farce.Crime World can reveal 20-year-old Alcino Soares and 19-year-old Luis Dos Martins Mariano won’t be sentenced until February 6 at the very earliest after it emerged there was an issue getting a Tetum interpreter – the language of East Timor.It’s understood there are only two such interpreters registered in Northern Ireland. The twisted pair – who filmed each other taking turns to rape the victim in an underground car park in Dungannon, Co Tyrone – were due to be sentenced on Thursday but that won’t now happen for almost three months, with difficulty in getting an interpreter one of the issues for the long delay.Read moreDrunken tirade: Woman screamed ‘f**k off’ before groping cop’s crotch in chaotic arrestThe case has already faced several delays over Soares seemingly pretending he doesn’t understand English despite a judge having already pointed out he had read the police interview transcripts.And we can reveal Soares has several Facebook profiles in English and was educated at a school in Dungannon where friends say he spoke English without any issues.When they first appeared at Dungannon Magistrates Court they both understood English without an interpreter.The court was even told that Soares’ English was good enough for him to use the term the victim “wanted it” when telling police he believed the sex was consensual.Crime Wrap, Friday, November 28 And after caution, he told police officers in seemingly good English: “I didn’t rape anyone. No way, man. That wasn’t me.”While the pair are behind bars in Hydebank Young Offenders’ Prison, the continued delay in this case will just mean the victim must wait even longer for justice to finally be served.The two sordid sex beasts – who pleaded guilty to rape charges earlier this year - filmed each other repeatedly raping the young woman in the car park in September 2023.The shocking attack was captured on CCTV and a police officer told a previous hearing that the young woman appeared to be so limp she may have been unconscious at some points – describing her as “ragdoll-like”.Mariano, from Sloan Street, and Soares, of Braeside, both in Dungannon, were jointly charged with rape on September 10 2023. Read moreCampaigner says car park rapists should not have got bailBack in March, the pair appeared together at Dungannon Crown Court, where Mariano admitted rape but Soares pleaded not guilty despite the damning video evidence against him.Mariano was remanded in custody after a judge rejected a defence application to allow him to remain on bail ahead of sentencing, stating: “He has pleaded guilty to a very serious offence and will no doubt face a lengthy period of imprisonment. I don’t believe bail is appropriate.” Meanwhile, a defence barrister for Soares said the trial would last about one week. While attempts were made to have the matter heard, the defence raised concerns over Soares’ ability to understand proceedings and claimed he did not appear to have any one particular language with which to communicate. “He came from East Timor at the age of 10 and has not adequately developed his own language or English,” the court was told. Numerous adjournments followed while a range of expert reports were obtained. At one stage, a prosecuting lawyer, perturbed by the continual delay, advised that he had an expert on standby to complete his own reports. Last month the court learned Soares was fit to stand trial, which was to begin in October.However, just as a jury was about to be sworn, he changed his plea. After admitting rape, Soares sat down in the dock with his head in his hands. While acknowledging that a custodial sentence was inevitable, the defence urged the court not to remand Soares in custody at this stage, citing his “capabilities and poor communication issues”. Judge Richard Green replied: “I have read the police interview transcripts and the defendant appears to have communicated very well and without the assistance of an interpreter.” Soares was remanded in custody and, like Mariano, was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register.Even after the sordid attack, Soares continued to stalk young women and film them in the street – with cops finding a staggering ten mobile phones in his home when they searched it and arrested him. When the case first reached court, a detective explained that the victim had reported being raped by two unknown males. Alcino Soares The pair walked her – one on either side – to the empty underground car park, where she was taken to a rear corner and raped by one of the teens while the other “watched and laughed”. Soares “paced up and down, apparently keeping a look-out. He laughed whilst Mariano raped the victim. At some points she appeared completely limp and may have been unconscious. She was unable to hold up her head and was ragdoll-like,” according to the police officer. The victim stumbled away, but Soares approached and pulled down her lower clothing before raping her. Mariano laughed as he videoed the rape on his phone. Soares walked away, leaving the victim lying on the ground. The pair then got her to her feet and walked her from the car park. Just under two weeks later, police encountered Soares after receiving reports of him following women and filming them on his phone. He provided officers with false details, although he later corrected this. Body-worn video from this incident was compared with CCTV footage from the car park, and Soares was arrested.
