MP raises concern with Minister in Anxiang Du missing interpreter case
AN MP has raised his concerns that an interpreter failed to show up for a quadruple murder suspect’s court hearing - delaying the case - with the Ministry of Justice.
Michael Ellis, MP for Northampton North, this week spoke to Chris Grayling after hearing a translator did not show up for the plea and case management hearing of Anxiang Du.
High Court Judge Mr Justice Julian Flaux said it was a ‘complete disgrace’ at Nottingham Crown Court last Friday.
Mr Du, 54, is accused of the murder of Jifeng ‘Jeff’ Ding, his wife Ge ‘Helen’ Chui and their two daughers, Alice, 12, and Xing, 18, who were found at their home in Pioneer Close, Wootton, in May 2011.
Du, who was formally arrested in February after being extradited to the UK from Morocco, is yet to enter a plea to the charges.
Mr Justice Flaux said his clerk had been told it was ‘not worthwhile’ for an interpreter to turn up for the hearing because they would ‘not make enough money’.
Mr Ellis said Mr Grayling agreed to look into the matter.
He said: “Mr Grayling was concerned and said he would be looking into it and would take appropriate action in due course.”
Adjourning the hearing for two months, Mr Justice Flaux said: “I will be asking for a written explanation to explain what had happened. It is a complete disgrace.”
Caroline Mooney, spokeswoman for Capita, said: “After the original interpreter booked to attend the hearing was unable to attend, Capita translation and interpreting worked to secure a replacement.
“The replacement interpreter could not attend until 2.30pm and we communicated this, in good time, to the court.
“Capita at no time refused to arrange an interpreter to attend Nottingham Crown Court on cost or any other grounds.”
His provisional trial date has been moved from August 5 to November 12.
Mr Du was remanded into custody to next appear at Northampton Crown Court on July 19.