Outrageous extradition to America of Christopher Tappin

David Cameron let him down - so says Christopher Tappin

The United States is very much using sledgehammers to crack walnuts when it comes to extradition. Not only that, but the American system of justice is quite hopeless in its approach to fairness. David Cameron is full of good words but very little decent action on occasions. Yet another extradition is under way. This time it is retired businessman Christopher Tappin who has been implicated in some FBI sting or whatever. Mr Tappin said as he was leaving the UK that he was feeling he had fewer rights than a terrorist. I'd say so. Pity his name isn't Abu Tappin!

What is it with the American justice system? Vengeance and vindictiveness are two sentiments high up on the list. Dr Samuel Mudd was thrown in a rotting stinking jail just because he mistakingly treated the wounds of Abraham Lincoln's assassin. Many others have felt this heaving desire for revenge. A bit like those who run after prison vans, thumping the sides shouting "Yer bastard!"

Mr. Tappin is leaving the UK wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. Get the humiliation in early, won't you. He denies all wrongdoing. But because of the draconian penalties for this charge - basically the prospect of dying in jail - he will no doubt be urged to plea bargain with some upstart public prosecutor. Quite wrong.

Fair trial in El Paso? Maybe, maybe not. But this extradition treaty is disgustingly one-sided and horrendously unfair. Instead of going after the likes of Mr.Tappin, why don't these FBI marshals do a proper job and stop the real crooks and villains supplying arms to the murderous despot in Syria?

The whole thing stinks!

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South African extradition extracts less than the truth

Ever since Norman Scott stood up in a magistrates court in Devon and said all his problems were the result of his association with Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe, I’ve been very wary of the concept of truth. That is truth in a human context. Pontius Pilate had a terrible time with truth. So much so that he washed his hands to take his mind off active thinking.

Now we hear that a self-confessed murderer has implicated a man in the murder of his wife. Shrien Dewani is being held in jail because this convict blurted out in court that he was not alone in carrying out the deed. So what appears to have been an innocent honeymoon in South Africa turns into a hellish nightmare. Dewani is proclaiming his innocence. But how on earth can he do that? We hear of corruption all around modern day South Africa. If I was in his shoes I’d fight the extradition as he is doing. I’d work out a way to provide proof. But I’d not have much faith in the judicial process of the Cape. Sorry, but that’s how it is.

I’ve been watching Garrow’s Law. That shows up how corrupt the English legal system was 200 years ago. Sir William Garrow is credited with establishing that a person was innocent until proved guilty. Many in the Establishment at the time thought otherwise. In fact they blatantly stitched people up. And they still felt it was OK to burn women at the stake until 1790. Nice, wasn’t it?

What has changed? People are still being dragged off to court on the say-so of dodgy dealing types. We’ve got corruption in high places and the desire for destruction in lower places. The US government is after all who dare to challenge them. Anyone wanting to know how the American authorities can retaliate should study the case of Dr.Samuel Mudd who was framed in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Mudd had helped the real assassin by offering medical aid. The establishment needed a result, so Mudd spent time in a hellhole. It was only his wife campaigning tirelessly to get him out that ended his misery. But even today he has still not been pardoned!

How many True Movies have been made on the the tales of tragedy “based on a true story”. Injustice is all around us. I may be next. You may be next. In the wrong place at the wrong time? Fingered by Fingers Malone. Anyone saying that “if you’ve done nothing wrong you've got nothing to worry about” needs a good jolt. All of a sudden there seems to be a spate of dirty tricks about. I think we need to pass the cleaning fluids around.

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Gary McKinnon extradition appeal failure

The new Supreme Court, Jack Straw's legal invention, is certainly in hock to the New Labour Regime it seems. In the appeal of Gary McKinnon against extradition to the USA, their lordships (or should it be their supremeships?) rattled on about it not being against his human rights and that his case did not raise exceptional points of law meriting a hearing at the higher court. Such as public interest.

I wonder where the judges have been lately? Public interest is exceptionally high on this, including the Daily Mail's campaign. Only the government is fitfully crazed enough to try to stop any delay in McKinnon being stuffed in a chicken-type cage masquerading as a jail cell in some US correctional centre. 60 years tops, he'll get. The US criminal justice system, when in cahoots with Uncle Sam's right hand man, can be like a madman on a mission. Many have fallen a cropper to the knee-jerk responses or the retributive approach of the courts. Dr Samuel Mudd was a fine example and it was only the hoo-ha that his wife created that finally made everyone see sense.

Dr.Mudd didn't have the benefit of internet campaigns. Gary McKinnon does. And this case is made even more nasty by Gordon Brown's slavish desire to keep in with the US over the Afghan debacle. We need to be like owls on a tree branch. One eye open ready to hoot! With New Labour hypocrisy a lot of hooting is required. Currently, a businessman trying to avoid extradition to the USA has had his human rights respected. If you're perceived as a cyber geek forget it. If you're a businessman with possibilities, New Labour will save you. Just look at the bankers. It's a twisted world this New Labour fantasy land.

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