Severine Wamala goes to trial
Disclaimer: The Chess Drum takes no position of guilt or innocence against Severine Wamala.
Last September, a disturbing story broke about the arrest of Severine Wamala on counts of incest and rape while serving as a math teacher at Lowell High School. Three young women have confessed that Wamala had repeatedly sexually assaulted them. It was said that one was assaulted as early as age 10. Wamala debunks these claims and while languishing in state prison (ordered held on $1 million bail) demanded a speedy trial.
Wamala, a native of Uganda, immigrated to the U.S. in 1988. He became a citizen and earned a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. The 46-year old chess organizer is also known by his three children, Jacob, Jessica, and Yowana, all standouts in their age categories. Jacob has a USCF rating of 2073 and Jessica has represented her state in the Polgar Championship for Girls and was a standout basketball player. The sad part is that this episode may have caused irreparable damage to the family since there was a domestic aspect to the case.
In a recent press release from the Lowell Sun, they have stated that the Wamala trial has begun. A couple of months ago, Wamala had written a letter to the Boylston Chess Club asking for support and a pleading for a speedy trial. At that point he had been held for nine months, unable to raise the $1 million. There are no further details about the trial or the case, but we will stay tuned for future developments.
Lisa Redmond, “Rape trial begins for ex-teacher,” Lowell Sun, 19 August 2007.
Related Google links on the Wamala case.
Wow! I hope Severine Wamala is not Guilty. I have played against Severine in tournaments and all I can say is that he came across as the last person that I would ever associate with this type of disturbing news. I pray that the outcome of the trial will confirm his proclamation of innocent. Any other outcome, will be a devastating loss to his family and to a certain degree a significant loss to us. Let’s pray for him.
I’ve been covering the Wamala case since the beginning at BCC Weblog. You can read all of the posts here.
Wow! This is the 1st I’ve heard this tragedy about Wamala. I certainly hope he’s not really guilty, and that the appeals process works in his favor. This whole story sounds as bizarre as the one about the little British girl who went missing in Portugal, and recently the parents have become suspects? I don’t personally know Wamala, but I had planned on attending one of his tournaments, then had to back out at the last minute. His communications with me about the tournament seemed so cordial and professional. But then e-mail doesn’t reveal much about a person anyway! The thing that’s bugging me is that I can’t figure out how a legal process could even consider condemning man to prison for possibly the rest of his life based on something as shaky as a letter placed in a time capsule? I mean, a teenager, or anybody for that matter, could fabricate whatever they want in a letter. It all seems soooo bizarre! If innocent, I am certainly praying that Wamala gets off, and can go on with his life! 😥 ❓ 😡 😡 😡
No, he’s not innocent. He was sentenced to 20-40 years this morning.
Yes, incest does “seem sooooo bizarre,” but you know, some folks give in to the urge to take comfort in their children, and some give in on a regular basis. After the fact, when called to account for their actions, some who give in to that urge will admit their wrongdoing and heal their relationships with the family members whose trust and innocence they have betrayed. Others — like Wamala — will bend over backwards to portray their supposed loved ones as manipulative liars out to ruin their pristine reputations. You should have heard him speak this morning (I did); it was absolutely disgusting, I don’t care how many quotations from John Locke or Thomas Jefferson he was ready toss out in the hope of getting a lighter sentence. Wamala is getting everything a man who sexually exploits his own flesh and blood deserves.
Well,
I feel very sad to read a story like this one. I dont know much about the accused but all I will say is that it is sad if the girls were violated. Such a trauma never heals and I hope that the truth will prevail one day. I fell some thing has gone wrong in the world today. People are behaving like animals,always acting without thinking. Its very sad.
I dont know what is becoming of the male folks. In my country, we read of these kinds of violations on a daily basis. It is absurd! If men want to have sex why not pick on some on their own size?Its not fair to ruin the life of an innocent soul without being given the right to choose.
I hope know of people who have done such acts and have gone their way free. Loose and at liberty to pick on their next victims and still plead innocence.(Most of these offenders are so cool and respected,you wouldnt even suspect them.They manage to convince even the victim that they are not capable of such a thing and lead the victim into believing that they are just delusional). I would love it if stiffer punishment was brought down on all such characters including the death sentence so that all would be perpetrators know just what will be waiting for them for doing such an evil thing.
As for Wamala, I hope he is not guilty in his conscience. May God bring his family all the much needed strength. I pray that they wont let the shadow of what has happended break them apart.
I wish to end by resounding stiffer punishment on all offenders. Please Ches players stay away from trouble and live up to the expectations!
New Hampshire’s highest court will hear an appeal next week from former Lowell High School math chairman Severine Wamala, who was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison two years ago for raping a 15-year-old girl.
https://www.teachercrimes.com/?p=933
There is no way a Ugandan man can rape his child. The accusation were put together by his ex wife and daughter for displine reasons. The court bought into it and I sure the judge is so happy for having sentenced a black man!