Mark Seawell back in court…

Mark Seawell

Today arguments continued at the Supreme Court in the extradition case of Mark Seawell. The US has applied for Seawell’s extradition on the grounds that he and his brothers operated a drug trafficking ring between Belize, Mexico and the US between 1994 and 1997. It has been a long road for the accused man who has not been convicted of any crime in Belize. After playing musical chairs with attorneys, Seawell is now represented by Arthur Saldivar, who claims that the US is relying on improperly gathered evidence. That evidence, asserts Saldivar, was allowed in error by former Chief Magistrate Margaret Gabb McKenzie when she ordered Seawell’s extradition in 2011. Saldivar claims that the entire process leading up to the extradition order was an unjust and oppressive abuse of process that would not guarantee him a fair trial in the US. Senior Crown Counsel Magali Perdomo told the court that it is up to the applicant, Seawell, to establish by what evidence his detention is unlawful. She says that so far he has not provided any evidence to support that. Furthermore, Perdomo asserts that Seawell in his submissions has not met the threshold provided for in other extradition cases including the current extradition matter of Rhett Fuller, wanted in connection with a murder in the US. Arguments by both sides continued throughout the day.