Juror's problems with English prompts mistrial for sex assault suspect

AUSTIN -- Nicodemo Coria-Gonzalez was set to go to trial this week in Travis County in connection to a string of violent attacks against women, including one who said Coria-Gonzalez sexually assaulted her while threatening her with a knife, and another who accused him of dousing her in gasoline.

But his trial ended before having started after a juror on Tuesday revealed he struggles with English and would not be able to understand complex legal terms.

The disclosure came prior to opening statements and prompted state District Judge David Crain to declare a mistrial in the state’s aggravated sexual assault case against Coria-Gonzalez.

Police have accused Coria-Gonzalez, 27, of attacking seven women, some of them prostitutes, between December 2015 and July 2016. He has been deported five times to Mexico for past criminal convictions.

Read more: https://www.mystatesman.com/news/crime--law/juror-problems-with-english-prompts-mistrial-for-sex-assault-suspect/ua2y45kaIOL21QTcUZMM1L/