So much for my earnest hope that Abu Hamza and his cohorts might be flown out of Heathrow by the end of the week. He and one other have lodged yet another appeal against extradition to the USA, although I had thought they had now run out of appeals.
It`s worth just considering the `processes` that have been involved here over the years:-
* May 2004 - Hamza arrested in London for allegedly organising military training camp in
* May 2004 - Hamza arrested in London for allegedly organising military training camp in
Oregon;
* Oct 2004 - Charged in UK with 15 offences under Terrorism Act;
* Feb 2006 - Hamza found guilty on 11 charges and jailed for seven years;
* Jul 2006 - Given go-ahead to challenge some convictions;
* Nov 2006 - Court of Appeal dismisses case;
* May 2007 - Preliminary extradition hearing;
* Nov 2007 - Hamza loses legal arguments against extradition - Home Secretary to decide;
* Feb 2008 - Home Secretary Jacqui Smith signs extradition order;
* June 2008 - High Court rules extradition decision `unassailable`;
* Jul 2008 - Hamza refused permission to appeal to House of Lords;
* Aug 2008 - European Court of Human Rights rules no extradition until case examined;
* April 2012 - ECHR rules extradition lawful;
* July 2012 - Hamza appeals ECHR decision;
* Sept 2012 - Appeal rejected; extradition can go ahead;
* 26 Sept 2012 - High Court appeal launched to avoid extradition.
It`s a quite extraordinary chain of events and as I understand it the latest appeal can only consider whether there are any new and compelling reasons to halt the extradition and it remains to be seen whether the judges meeting in open court next Tuesday consider that there are. If so, then the ball game might continue; if not then unless there is yet another appeal, the extradition might finally happen.
It`s difficult to see where any `new and compelling evidence not previously heard` can conceivably come from. Unless, of course, Hamza claims air sickness or that flying in a plane across New York might just be a tad dangerous, thus infringing his human rights and the whole circus starts all over again. I just hope next Tuesday we might finally see common sense prevail for once, for the ass of the law is in danger of becoming a donkey.
* Oct 2004 - Charged in UK with 15 offences under Terrorism Act;
* Feb 2006 - Hamza found guilty on 11 charges and jailed for seven years;
* Jul 2006 - Given go-ahead to challenge some convictions;
* Nov 2006 - Court of Appeal dismisses case;
* May 2007 - Preliminary extradition hearing;
* Nov 2007 - Hamza loses legal arguments against extradition - Home Secretary to decide;
* Feb 2008 - Home Secretary Jacqui Smith signs extradition order;
* June 2008 - High Court rules extradition decision `unassailable`;
* Jul 2008 - Hamza refused permission to appeal to House of Lords;
* Aug 2008 - European Court of Human Rights rules no extradition until case examined;
* April 2012 - ECHR rules extradition lawful;
* July 2012 - Hamza appeals ECHR decision;
* Sept 2012 - Appeal rejected; extradition can go ahead;
* 26 Sept 2012 - High Court appeal launched to avoid extradition.
It`s a quite extraordinary chain of events and as I understand it the latest appeal can only consider whether there are any new and compelling reasons to halt the extradition and it remains to be seen whether the judges meeting in open court next Tuesday consider that there are. If so, then the ball game might continue; if not then unless there is yet another appeal, the extradition might finally happen.
It`s difficult to see where any `new and compelling evidence not previously heard` can conceivably come from. Unless, of course, Hamza claims air sickness or that flying in a plane across New York might just be a tad dangerous, thus infringing his human rights and the whole circus starts all over again. I just hope next Tuesday we might finally see common sense prevail for once, for the ass of the law is in danger of becoming a donkey.
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