For two days, Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay had the floor before the Justices of the Court of Appeal to argue that the extradition request for Belizean Rhett Fuller is unconstitutional, unlawful, oppressive and unjust. But today it was the United States' turn to present its case to convince the trio of judges that Fuller should be sent back to the Florida to stand trial for murder.
In direct contrast to Courtenay's 2 days of presentations, the US, through its representative, Crown Counsel Priscilla Banner, took approximately three hours. She began by saying, quote: "Extradition is a peculiar thing...a creature like no other. It is not a part of a trial. Any concerns or issues about the extradition can be raised in the United States. This is why countries sign treaties, because they have faith in that country's judicial process."
Banner went on to assert that while almost two decades have passed, any perceived delay or abuse must consider that there is no statute bar for murder, a heinous crime. The crown counsel also contended that there are several safeguards in place to ensure that the Constitutional rights of the accused are protected, including the powers granted to the Minister to stop the extradition if something is amiss and most importantly, that the final decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to comply with the request can be judicially reviewed.
But in rebutting Banner's contentions, Courtenay rose to maintain that the Courts of Belize has to ask itself if the process is being abused. "Any one wanted for extradition has constitutional and fundamental rights. The Court cannot close its eyes and say recourse is with the Minister of Foreign Affairs." The Justices are expected to deliver their decision in the case on Friday.
