A.G.’s ministry states its case in Rhett Fuller extradition

Rhett Fuller’s Appeal on whether or not he will be extradited to the United States for a crime committed nineteen years ago, continued today before Justices Elliott Mottley, Dennis Morrison and Boyd Carey. After two days of submissions by Eamon Courtenay, who is representing Fuller, Attorneys for the Attorney General’s Ministry, Priscilla Banner and Magali Perdomo began their arguments today on the Separation of Powers between the executive and the judiciary. Banner cited a case in the Philippines and pointed out that extradition is not a crime, and that constitutional rights are not relevant and cannot be invoked by persons facing extradition. It also came up in the Court of Appeal that because the matter of Separation of Powers was not an issue when the case was tried before the Chief Justice, the respondents needed more time to research this particular ground. In response to another of Courtenay’s arguments, the respondents argued that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has the right to deny an extradition order even if there is sufficient evidence. As far as the delay in the extradition order, Banner explained that when a crime is committed, charges are not filed the following day because of the process of investigation. Had Fuller been in the United States it would have taken less time. Banner also told the Court that as soon as the request was made, prompt action was taken and that there was no delay on the part of the Belize government. As for the issue of abuse raised by Fuller’s attorney, the respondents submitted that murder is a heinous crime and we would be failing in our international obligation if we did not realise that. “Persons cannot use nations as safe havens when a crime occurs” they argued. “They must have courage and face the legal process where crime occurred.” Fuller has been named in the murder of Larry Miller, who was shot and killed in Dade County, Florida in 1989. And since then, has been fighting extradition.