Judgement reserved in extradition of Nembhard, five others
THE Full Court of the Supreme Court yesterday reserved judgement in the extradition of six persons wanted in the United States on drug-related charges.
The six include popular St Ann businessman Norris “Deedo” Nembhard, who had been branded a drug kingpin by United States President George W Bush.
Attorneys representing the men are seeking a writ of habeas corpus, vacating an extradition order in 2004 by then Senior Corporate Area Resident Magistrate Martin Gayle and to release the men from custody.
The attorneys argued that the evidence for extradition of their clients on charges of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilogrammes of substance containing cocaine and a mixture of more than 1,000 kgs of substance containing ganja, knowing and intending that the substances would be unlawfully imported into the US was insufficient.
Those ordered extradited along with Nembhard after their arrest in 2004 are Constable Herbert “Scarri” Henry, 45; businessman Vivian Dalley; Robroy “Spy” Williams, 50, and his brother Glenford Williams; and businessman Luis Arias, 49.
The Full Court, presided over by Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe, started hearing arguments in February but the matter was postponed until this month, as some of the issues being argued – such as whether the designation as a foreign drug kingpin would likely deny the men a fair trial in the US – had been pending in the Court of Appeal in the extradition appeals of Leebert Ramcharan and Donovan “Plucky” Williams.