[LINK] Aussie Drink or Die member handed to US on a plate

[Chris Maltby]

On Sat, May 12, 2007 at 11:24:53AM +1000, Rick Welykochy wrote:
> It is one thing to commit a serious crime in the USA and flee to another
> country. Extradition is appropriate in that circumstance. But it is quite
> another to commit a crime in Australia and be extradited to another
> jurisdiction without having committed the crime in that jurisdiction.
> 
> The fact that the Australian courts and the executive have decided that
> Griffith's actions took place under USA jurisdiction does not make that
> decision morally or legally correct.
> 
> This decision sets a serious precedent that can be used in the future for
> even more questionable draconian measures. Imagine this country extraditing
> a citizen to another jurisdiction that would torture or execute the
> defendant. Imagine the process being used for political purposes.

Furthermore, I imagine that there will be plenty of people interested in
challenging this new kind of extradition or any resultant conviction in
the courts of both countries. Even allowing for the conservative bent of
the highest courts in both the US and Australia, judges tend to be fairly
jealous in guarding their role in the legal system against politically
driven interference...

Chris