UPDATE- Bob Hodge, Beazar, Skelton, Harrigan & Valdez facing extradition
This means Earl ‘Bob’ Hodge, Chad Skelton, Juan Valdez, Roberto Harrigan and Carlston Beazer are expected to stand trial in the Southern District of Florida and Hodge in the North Carolina District.
The Magistrate in her ruling said, “I find that a prima facie case made out against the men…and I am committing the men to the Her Majesty’s Prison, Balsum Ghut until such time to await the decision of the Governor.”
However, she did inform the men that they have the right to make a habeas corpus application - the right to challenge the terms of their incarceration before a High Court Judge. The men’s lawyers have 15 days to make an appeal.
In expounding her decision, Magistrate Stephens stated in relation to Hodge, the alleged mastermind in the drug ring that spanned for 13 years, that she was satisfied with the witnesses who gave affidavit evidence in identifying him. She also noted that the diplomatic channel regarding the paper work for the extradition request was satisfactory, therefore he can stand trial in North Carolina.
Meanwhile, Hodge, Harrigan, Valdez, Skelton, and Beazer were allegedly identified as co-conspirators by one of their alleged accomplices as well as by Chief Inspector Murray.
Furthermore, the Magistrate ruled that the United States had jurisdiction over the matter since an account was allegedly set up in the US for money transfers, an aircraft was purchased and registered there and the aircraft was used in the drug operation.
She lamented that the aircraft was monitored from South America via a tracking device and was allegedly spotted circling an area off the Virgin Islands. Two vessels were seen in the said location and when police gave chase, Skelton, Beazer and Valdez were apprehended on one of the vessels.
The Magistrate said she also found evidence that Harrigan, a former Customs Officer, allegedly joined the operation by assisting one of the conspirators, a Colombian national, by allowing him entry into the VI.
Valdez allegedly handled money for one of the co-conspirators and Hodge, the Magistrate added.
Skelton denied bail yet again
Tana’ania Small-Davis, who is representing Skelton, applied for bail, and told the court this morning that her client was on bail before and adhered to his bail conditions.
She pointed out that he is not a flight risk, and suggested that the Court can impose stringent measures, however, Senior Crown Counsel Valston Graham objected. And after some heated exchange between the two – Magistrate Stephens denied the application.
A special hearing was held on February 3, 6 and 24, 2012, when the defense lawyers for the men put forward arguments as to why they should not be extradited, with the main reason given that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had applied the 1987 legislation, which does not have the US on its list.
However, Senior Magistrate Stephens stated that the US had jurisdiction to make such a request. She also ruled that the Magistrate’s Court had full and unquestionable jurisdiction to hear the matter and Governor Boyd McCleary was entitled to give such an order to proceed with the extradition hearing.
Hodge was represented by Julian Knowles, QC; Skelton by Tana’nia Davis-Small; Richard Rowe for Beazer’ lawyer; Stehpen Daniels for Valdez and Patrick Thompson for Harrigan. Appearing for the Crown were former DPP Terrance Williams and Senior Crown Counsel Graham.
During a court hearing on August 27, 2011, Graham told the court that throughout the years Hodge and his alleged accomplices allegedly picked up some 4,518 kilogrammes of cocaine from airdrops in Virgin Islands (VI) waters, with Beazer and Skelton allegedly assisting in the recovery of the illegal substance.
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