Supreme Court grants Rhett Fuller bail

There are still many hurdles to cross but the family of Rhett Fuller has plenty reasons to celebrate tonight. Fuller’s attorney, Eamon Courtenay, secured a fifty thousand dollars bail for his release this afternoon in Supreme Court. Fuller has been locked up at the Hattieville prison since March twenty seventh. On that date, the Court of Appeal refused his application to dismiss a long standing extradition request by the U.S. Government that has been tied in courts for over ten years.
After the good news in Court, Courtenay explained how bail was achieved.

Jose Sanchez
“What was your main argument for bail?”

Eamon Courtenay, Attorney for Rhett Fuller
“Well, I think the biggest argument in favour of mister Fuller is that he was admitted to bail twice before by the chief justice previously. And on both occasions he adhered to all conditions; reported to court at each adjournment and did not attempt to flee. And so we said to Mister Justice Lucas, Mr. Fuller has a track record in obeying bail conditions and urged him to do so. The second point we made was that the conditions were quite onerous; fifty thousand dollars plus two sureties, plus reporting to the police twice per week and in addition to that he has to surrender all his travel documents. So I think that all in all, the judge was satisfied that the evidence before him was sufficient to cause him to grant Mister Fuller bail.
But he has his appeal to Privy Council. We are settling the papers for that but we need the leave of the court of appeal but we have to wait till June. We will file the papers next week but we will have to wait till June for the Court of Appeal to give us leave to go the Privy Council. And then of course, he still has his representations to be made to the minister.”

Jose Sanchez
“The judge made reference to point out that you didn’t apply to the Appeals level for bail.”

Eamon Courtenay
“He asked whether we could have appealed, made the application before the Court of Appeal. I indicated to him that I did try to do that but the Court of Appeal felt that I should make the application here.”

Jose Sanchez
“When do you expect your husband to be released?”

Ann Marie Fuller, Wife of Rhett Fuller
“By Monday.”

Jose Sanchez
“How are you feeling right now?”

Ann Marie Fuller
“Well, I’m very grateful, very, very grateful to God and I’m thankful to Eamon for a job well done.”

Jose Sanchez
“This is just one part of the worst part, it’s just one battle won. What’s the next step?

Ann Marie Fuller
“The next step is obviously to continue fighting and we’re going to try and appeal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to continue to look at this case very carefully before he makes a decision and to allow the process to continue and we are going to continue to take it to the Privy Council. We’re hoping that he will allow the judicial process to continue before he makes any decisions on signing any orders for the American government.”

Jose Sanchez
“But definitely the entire family is looking forward to his return.”

Ann Marie Fuller
“Especially the children.”

Fuller is wanted in the United States to stand trial for the 1990 murder of Larry Miller in Florida.