Swiss family files lawsuit against Colorado authorities
The parents of a Swiss-American boy detained in Colorado for three months on incest charges, have filed a lawsuit against the authorities. They are suing the police and prosecutors for illegally arresting and detaining Raoul Wüthrich.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court on Tuesday, also names the Denver Post newspaper and the host of a local radio show. It accuses the media of defamation and disseminating false information.
The Wüthrich family is seeking financial compensation for damages, though no figure has been named.
The case sparked a media outcry in Switzerland and other European countries, after it was revealed how the boy was taken from his home in handcuffs, after being denounced by a neighbour.
The neighbour alleged she saw 11 year-old Raoul sexually assaulting his five year-old sister. The family said he was merely helping her urinate.
A judge dismissed the charges three months later on a technicality, saying the boy's right to a speedy trial had been denied. The Wüthrich family moved to Switzerland after his release.
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