Appeals court rules on attempted kidnapping case
Posted: 10.26.2012 at 3:20 PM
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MUNISING -- The case against a Canadian man, accused of trying to kidnap a 12-year-old Munising girl last November, will be moving forward.

The Michigan Court of Appeals is advising the Alger County Circuit Court to re-hear arguments before making a decision about using the defendant's videotaped confession as evidence. Police say Mohamed El Fechtali confessed to the attempted kidnapping during a police interview.

In January, Judge William Carmody granted a defense motion to throw out the confession. Prosecutor Karen Bahrmen appealed that ruling.

The 40-year-old El Fechtali was released from jail and returned to his home in Montreal on a personal recognizance bond. He is charged with attempted kidnapping and enticing a child for immoral purposes.

The defense maintains El Fechtali was just asking the girl for directions and offered her a ride home.

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