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Extradition retrial for 4 men adjourned to December 5, 2014

Earl ‘Bob’ Hodge. Photo: VINO/File
Roberto ‘Tico’ Harrigan. Photo: VINO/File
Roberto ‘Tico’ Harrigan. Photo: VINO/File
Carlston Beazer and Chad Skelton. Photo: VINO/File
Carlston Beazer and Chad Skelton. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Magistrate Ayana Baptiste-DaBreo had no choice but to concede to the Prosecution’s request to adjourn the pending Magistrate’s case against Earl 'Bob' Hodge, Roberto 'Tico' Harrigan, Chad Skelton and Carlston Beaser to December 5, 2014.

The four were scheduled for an appearance in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday September 5, 2014. However the Prosecution informed the Magistrate that the matter of appeal that was taken by three of the men had not concluded pending a decision by Justice Vicki Ann Ellis.

The four are facing possible extrication to the United States of America for trial for allegedly being part of a conspiracy to import and distribute cocaine. A Judicial Review hearing was previously requested by the men after local charges against them were dropped and fresh extradition proceedings were instituted by the Attorney General. 

This has resulted in a stay in the extradition proceedings at the Magistrate's Court. The hearing was conducted by Justice Vicki Ann Ellis in February 2014. 

The men’s lawyers, in their application for a Judicial Review to Justice Vicki Ann Ellis, had questioned the Governor’s decision to issue a second Order to Proceed with an extradition hearing and opined that this can be interpreted as an abuse of discretional power. They also alleged that the new request has very little "new" evidence. 

The Government, through the Attorney General's (AG) Chambers, had filed an appeal against a High Court’s decision made by Justice Albert Redhead on September 17, 2012 which ruled against the extradition to the United States of the five men accused of being involved in a drug ring. 

21 Responses to “Extradition retrial for 4 men adjourned to December 5, 2014”

  • justice (09/09/2014, 09:08) Like (22) Dislike (10) Reply
    Justice delayed is justice denied. Governor Duncan we want justice for our young men. A man is innocent until proven guilty. This travesty must end NOW!
    • Mark (10/09/2014, 13:31) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
      Guilty as sin. They should be extridited to the US
      • Your momma (11/09/2014, 16:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Hope they do the same thing to u too
      • jail (14/09/2014, 11:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        I want them all in prison. ...u can't deny the USA....An further more all u tolans wa running to the USA to give birth ...u all want turn US citizen's ......news flash. ..u all have to pay taxes just now...idiots tolans.
        • ginger (15/09/2014, 14:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          You need deporting. I hope the government request your IP address and deal with your backside. In the U S that is what they would have done.
  • george (09/09/2014, 10:36) Like (19) Dislike (15) Reply
    Free the man dem
  • insider (09/09/2014, 11:42) Like (12) Dislike (21) Reply
    tola need to go on a demonstration to free these men
  • Release (09/09/2014, 13:11) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
    Image being held in the USA or the UK with no changes against you, it would have brought public and international commendation and outrage from many.
    Right here in the BVI in front of our eyes this is the story of the Bob five!
    • correction..... (09/09/2014, 15:48) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
      @release....no, it's not the Bob five...it's Tortola Five.....I am surprise the international news folks haven't gotten wind of this from the beginning......this is injustice!!!! No charges, but still they all remain locked up.....I guess that's the BVI way of doing things for certain folks....others walk with a slap on their wrist...or very LITTLE community service and no fine because of their parents name and title in gov't....HMMM....SAD....charge or release those guys....
  • the g*vern*r (09/09/2014, 16:15) Like (17) Dislike (4) Reply
    why are you holding these men for the U.S. ? What kind of deal does our governor have with the U.S. If these guys was in the U.S. they couldn't do this to them. The rights of these men is being blatently disregarded. Let the men go and stop doing this to your own people. Every time they go to court it s being put off. I think the government wants them to exhaust every possible avenue. Its a lucky thing that here don't have protests else a lot of people would be dead.
  • No Tears (09/09/2014, 18:04) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    I don't see why people bawling now. They getting off easy if you ask me. The local charges were dropped not because they didn't had enough evidence or due to anything positive in these guys favor. Just remember that they could have go through trial here locally then if found guilty, sentenced then extradited after serving time. They only dropped the local charges expecting them to be extradited quickly which would have taken the problem off of their hands but since the judged overturned the ruling for the extradition they end up stuck with them while awaiting the hearing.
    • Yes (10/09/2014, 14:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Ever occurred to you why they didn't proceed with the case locally then had them extradited?
      • facts man (12/09/2014, 08:47) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
        becaue the crown would have loose they got nothing on Bob dem NOTHING but lies
  • Yes (09/09/2014, 23:42) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dem man need to go on a hunger strike like those asians.....By the way where is valdez?
    • where's who.....?? (11/09/2014, 16:01) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      He resting himself wherever he might be and whomever he "might be" or called.......he don't need to show up...I guess!!!
  • zedlav (10/09/2014, 03:37) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Dont cry 4 me. Life is good at the gut
    • @ zedlav (10/09/2014, 11:00) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      nothing bettre than your freedon boss they did not do anything free the ppl
  • wize up (10/09/2014, 07:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ?
  • Your momma (11/09/2014, 12:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Be careful what you wish for
  • black boy (12/09/2014, 08:48) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    What they are doing to deeds guys is equal to slavery


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