Global Courant
In the extradition court in London, a preparatory hearing for the extradition of Thomas Mithan, Steven Hunt, Harriet Bridgeman and the Albanian with a British passport, Edmond Haxhia, was held.
They are wanted by Albanian justice on suspicion of complicity in the murder of Ardian Nikulaj on April 19, 2023.
Top Channel journalist Muhamed Veliu watched this scene online.
Of the four arrested, only Edmond Haxhia preferred to attend this hearing in court.
Meanwhile, Harriet Bridgeman joined online from her home.
Lewis Green, Thomas Mithan’s defense lawyer, warned that he will request the court to bring a report from an independent expert on prison conditions in Albania.
Such expert reports have been used in the past to block, but without success, the extradition of Albanians from England.
The English Supreme Court, the Royal Court of Justice, has expressed itself several times on this matter by deciding that “the conditions in Albanian prisons meet the standards for extradition from the territory of England, required by Albanian justice”.
Judge Daniel Sternberg ordered Bridgeman to continue his probation under electronic monitoring, while the other three co-defendants will remain in custody.
Also, Judge Sternberg asked the defense lawyers to submit their defense arguments to the court on August 29.
While the Albanian state requesting the extradition of these persons, through the representative from the Crown Prosecution Service, the English prosecution, must submit the legal documents on October 10.
With the realization by the parties of these orders of judge Daniel Sternberg, the way is opened for the review of Albania’s request in mid-November.
Harry Simpson, the other British person with an Interpol Red Card, is still on the run after an arrest warrant from the Albanian Police.
Sakaq in Morocco has been arrested after being wanted by Interpol, Ruben Saraiva, the man who, according to the Albanian police, is the author of the murder in Shengjin of Ardian Nikulaj. Extradition procedures have also started against him.
Global Courantl
