Facing extradition: Rhett Fuller denied bail
Rhett Fuller
In the United States, Rhett Fuller is wanted in connection with the murder of US National Larry Miller. Fuller moved back to Belize following the incident and for over a decade, he has been in and out of court fighting extradition to the US. The Minister of Foreign Affairs on September twentieth, 2011 decided to surrender Fuller to the US and Justice Samuel Awich dismissed a challenge to that decision on November twenty-second. His legal team headed by Eamon Courtenay has since filed an appeal and today attempted to have Fuller released from prison on bail. Fuller, however, received more bad news in court when his application for bail to be with his family was denied and he was taken back to the Central Prison. His attorney told News Five what would be their next legal move.
Eamon Courtenay, Attorney for Rhett Fuller
Eamon Courtenay
“Well the judge refused his petition for bail. As you know on the last occasion, we had asked the judge to admit him to bail pending the appeal to the Court of Appeal. The judge pointed to the fact that the minister had determined that he should be extradited. We challenged that decision and Mister Justice Awich had dismissed the challenge saying it was a change in circumstance that is adverse to Mister Fuller which would increase the possibility of him wanting to flee. And therefore he refused the petition for bail.”
Jose Sanchez
“Okay, what comes next for your client? What’s the next step?”
Eamon Courtenay
“We are hoping that his appeal will be heard at the next sitting of the Court of Appeal which is schedule to start on the nineteenth of March. At that stage we seek to appeal the decision of Mister Justice Awich.”
Jose Sanchez
“So how much further—it’s been over a decade—how much longer can this be dragged out in court before a final decision is made?”
Eamon Courtenay
“I don’t think it si about dragging it out in court; it is that Mister Fuller has certain rights. He has the right to come to court to have the court to decide whether what is being done is lawful and he is exercising those rights. The appeal, if it is heard in March, is going to actually be the last one because after that it is only the Caribbean Court of Justice that will be available to him. But we feel hopeful we will win in the Caribbean Court of Appeal.”
I am not saying he is innocent or guilty! The American justice system is as corrupt or as fair as anyother judicial system in the world including Belize. So whenever America starts sending their citizens back to Belize to stand trials for crimes they committed in Belize this is when we should reciprocate and send our citizens back to the US to stand trial.
Too many are serving life sentences in the US for crimes they never comitted. Where did the captain go that recently messed up our reef? Where did all the other American criminals disappeared to that molested our Belizean children…? Are we on a one way street when it comes to extradition?
By the way when they are done with him and he has made all his jailhouse contacts in the US he will be sent right back to Belize a better criminal then how he left. What is this drill all about?
His family must be going through a hard time, and I hope they are finding solace and comfort. But, Rhett shouldn’t fear. If he ends up in prison in the US, after his time and his deportation, he can become Music Ambassador of Belize and earn Diplomatic status!! Shyne Barrow or Israel Bin Jerusalem or whatever his name is, has set the precedence!!!!
DID HE or DID HE NOT commit the crime…YES or NO???
Ship him to America! We got enough murderers in Belize already! ” US authorities wouldn’t be after him for no reason.
Thats true he ran back to Belize thinking he would get away with murder but there is a saying *what u do on this earth u pay on this earth* extradite him and let him pay for what he has done
What about extrading the American lady that trafficked so many Belizean kids to the US back to Belize to face criminal charges.We are so quick to pass judgement on our own.Wake up Belize stop the double standard.