Britain refuses to extradite sept 11 suspect to the USA

[KrazyHorse]

We don't have laws against it, Asher. They're beginning to think about making them, though.

EDIT: the proposal I heard was to protect only citizens from extradition on death-penalty charges

[Asher]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
We don't have laws against it, Asher. They're beginning to think about making them, though.

Are you sure? Because we delayed shipping him down there for many many years because of the death penalty...

[KrazyHorse]

Yes, I'm sure. He might have tried to use existing laws to show that extradition would violate his rights somehow, though.

[Asher]

Here's what I've found so far:

http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial/ng/6.htm

Any elation at his capture was soon dispelled, however, when John Cosbie, the Canadian Justice Minister, announced that under the terms of a 1976 extradition treaty with the United States, he had refused the request for Ng's extradition as Canada, having abolished capital punishment, would not release any prisoner charged with a capital crime that carried the death penalty.

[KrazyHorse]

Which means it's under the discretion of the Justice Minister. I'm pretty sure Euro countries have actually passed laws prohibiting such extraditions. This is very different, since you need the legislature to change the rules, whereas if it falls under executive purview then the decision can be made overnight.

[Asher]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Which means it's under the discretion of the Justice Minister. I'm pretty sure Euro countries have actually passed laws prohibiting such extraditions. This is very different, since you need the legislature to change the rules, whereas if it falls under executive purview then the decision can be made overnight.

It said "under terms of the treaty", which means extraditing anyone to face the death penalty would break the treaty. How is this any different from breaking domestically passed laws?

[KrazyHorse]

No, it says

under the terms of a 1976 extradition treaty with the United States, he had refused the request for Ng's extradition as Canada, having abolished capital punishment, would not release any prisoner charged with a capital crime that carried the death penalty

Note the use of the word "would" instead of "could". The treaty wouldn't limit Canada's ability to extradite criminals; it would limit our obligation to do so.

[KrazyHorse]

It's like this: the treaty says that we have to extradite criminals, except when they might face the death penalty. The Justice Minister can still decide to extradite in such cases, but a law would prevent him from doing so. Capiche?

[Asher]

So it took 6 years for them to change their mind? He was arrested in 85, shipped south in 91...

Seems a bit long if all they had to do was say "Oh, okay, you can do it now". But then again, this is the Canadian Federal Government.

[KrazyHorse]

They shouldn't have shipped him south at all. Bastard Tories.

[Asher]

You really want to spend Canadian tax dollars keeping someone who is completely and utterly proven to be guilty from being shipped down to face the death penalty? There was video of his involvement.

I sure as hell don't want my tax dollars keeping someone else's prisoners.

[KrazyHorse]

I'd rather do that than have his blood on my hands.

[Asher]

I'd love to have his blood on my hands.

[KrazyHorse]

Bloodthirsty Albertan.

[Asher]

The man lived his life to take life from others, why should we pay to keep him alive and mock the families of those he killed?