European Arrest Warrants
The European Arrest Warrant allows british citizens to be extradited within the European Union without any consideration as to whether there is any credible evidence against them or even if they have a case to answer. A recent case involving a 21 year old british university student with no criminal record highlights the difficulties. He has been extradited to Greece under such a warrant. Admittedly he is charged with murder but no date has yet been set for his trial and there are serious questions about how the police conducted the investigation. There are also allegations of assaults on witnesses and statements being altered to implicate the accused. In the meantime he languishes in a Greek jail with no prospect of bail. In these days when a convicted prisoner can claim the right to cosmetic surgery this hardly seems just.
Andrew Symeou remains in a
Andrew Symeou remains in a Greek jail.
Despite the fact that he is not a fugitive, has never been in trouble before, has Greek relatives with whom he can stay and has offered to surrender his passport a Greek magistrate refused him bail and refused to hear any representations on his before.
Is this a fair system implemented by a fellow member of the EU?
This case has now been taken up by Fair Trials International.
When can we expect Gordon Brown to summon the Greek ambassador to lodge a protest?
I am not holding my breath.
Jago Russell, the chief
Jago Russell, the chief executive of Fair Trials International writes in this week's edition of the Law Society Gazette.
Now it seems that David
Now it seems that David Blunkett who as home secretary originally agreed to the introduction of the European Arrest Warrant in the wake of the 9/11 attacks accepts that there has been misuse.
Is our government going to do anything about this?
The Greek authorities have
The Greek authorities have finally set the date for trial of Andrew Symeou.
It is the 4th June 2010.
Meanwhile bail continues to be denied.
Symeou is currently held in Korydallos prison, a maximum security facility, once described by Amnesty International as the worst prison in Europe.
I forgot to mention that
I forgot to mention that there is a facebook group in support of Andrew.
I urge everyone to join.
Andrew has now been granted
Andrew has now been granted bail.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10240174
Andrew Giligan in the Sunday Telegraph has now taken up this cause.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/7969981/Britain-left-to-count-cost-of-European-Arrest-Warrant.html