Sept date set for extradition hearing for five allegedly involved in drug ring
The five men, Carlston Beazer, Earl ‘Bob’ Hodge, Chad Skelton, Roberto ‘Tico’ Harrigan and Juan Valdez are wanted by the United States of America to answer charges in connection with an alleged 13-year drug ring.
None of the men were present during the hearing.
Attorney Richard Rowe stated during the proceedings that he is no longer representing Hodge and will now only be representing Beazer. Attorney Menelick Miller appeared for Chad Skelton while Patrick Thompson represents Harrigan. Attorney Julian Knowles, QC represents Hodge.
The men were arrested in 2011 and their matter has engaged both the lower and higher courts over the past few years.
A Judicial Review hearing was previously requested by the men after local charges against the men 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 and the men are currently awaiting a decision in the matter.
The men’s lawyers, in their application for a judicial review to Justice Vickie 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.
A new date of September 5, 2014 has now been set for report in the matter before the Magistrate’s Court.
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