No habeas corpus filed in Bob Hodge’s saga….as yet!
Bob Hodge, Roberto Harrigan, Juan Valdez, Carlton Beazer and Chad Skleton are wanted in the Southern District of Florida for conspiracy to import cocaine, while Hodge is also wanted in North Carolina to face the same offence.
It is alleged that the men were involved in a 13 year trans-Atlantic drug trade with approximately 4,518 kilogrammes of cocaine allegedly airdropped in Virgin Islands (VI) waters.
On March 13, 2012, Senior Magistrate Valerie Stephens had ruled in favour of the Crown to have the accused men be extradited and informed them of their right to make a habeas corpus application in the High Court.
However, when this news agency checked with the High Court Registry on March 14, 2012, no application was filed as yet. When Hebert McKenzie, one of the lawyers for Hodge was contacted, he stated that Julian Knowles, QC “will be taking instructions from him [Hodge] shortly so that the next move can be determined.”
Meanwhile, Valdez’s lawyer Stephen Daniels disclosed it was too early to comment since he has to confer with his client. Tana’iana Small-Davis, Richard Rowe and Patrick Thompson are representing Skelton, Beazer and Harrigan respectively.
However, a legal professional told Virgin Islands News Online that the lawyers cannot act fast “because the extradition process is very complex and tricky.”
“I could tell you this though, if the writs are made on behalf of the men, it’s going to be war in the courtroom,” he added.
Former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Terrance Williams and Senior Crown Counsel, Valston Graham appeared for the Crown.
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