Posted on 11/29/2005 6:15:26 PM PST by NormsRevenge
MEXICO CITY - Mexico's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that suspects facing life in prison can be extradited, overturning a 4-year-old ban that had prevented many of the country's most notorious criminals from being sent to the United States.
A 1978 treaty with the United States allows Mexico to deny extradition if a person faces the death penalty - a restriction that still stands under Tuesday's ruling. In 2001, the Supreme Court also blocked extradition of suspects facing life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Capital punishment has been banned by Mexico's constitution since June and was only rarely applied for decades before that. Life sentences are also rare.
The high court took up the issue after the government of the northern state of Chihuahua modified its penal code to include life sentences in convictions involving homicide and kidnapping.
Tuesday's ruling also declared Chihuahua's state law constitutional, setting a precedent that could allow for more life sentences.
Judges ruled 6-5 to throw out the life without parole restriction, but their ruling will not ease extradition restrictions for suspects who could face the death penalty, a court spokesman said.
He said the ruling will apply to all suspects captured in Mexico - including U.S. citizens who commit crimes, then flee south of the border.
During a full high court session, 10 judges normally vote. In the case of a tie, chief justice Mariano Azuela is called upon to cast the deciding vote.
The 2001 ban kept many of the country's top drug lords and other notorious suspects in Mexico - and out of reach of U.S. authorities.
In one of the latest cases, Raul Gomez-Garcia was caught in Mexico in June after being accused of killing a Denver police officer. Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey brought second-degree murder charges against Gomez-Garcia because a first-degree charge could have blocked the extradition by allowing life imprisonment or the death penalty.
The U.S. Embassy had no comment on Tuesday's ruling.
The federal attorney general's office is considering U.S. extradition requests for Benjamin Arellano Felix, the reputed head of the Tijuana-based cocaine- and marijuana-smuggling syndicate bearing his family's name.
U.S. prosecutors are also seeking to try Osiel Cardenas, who authorities say ran the Gulf cartel and was responsible for moving thousands of tons of cocaine and other narcotics across the Texas border.
Despite Tuesday's ruling, Mexican law still requires that suspects be tried first in this country before being sent abroad for new trials.
Good.
Capital punishment has been banned by Mexico's constitution since June and was only rarely applied for decades before that.
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A look at the border towns show this statement to be incorrect. There is simply the drug baron's thugs conducting the Capital Punishment upon the innocent.
It's progress.
ping
article also posted on wire as
Mexican court overturns extradition ban
Better to have the US taxpayers feed, clothe, educate and house them, I guess. /s
Isn't the Mexican Courts sudden reversal an amazing coincidence?
In any event, it wasn't the financial aspect that influenced this decision.
Well, no direct foreign aid. We just employ their entire underclass for them. ;)
and they thank us by collecting billions of dollars
via Western Union
Dang, even more?
Even though your statement is a huge exaggeration, it's at least partly true. Nevertheless, the immigration issue has nothing to do with this decision. I don't think there's any connection at all.
may I offer an opinion, while I proceed to offer an opinion... you are probably correct, but I do think Mexico has sensed the mood of the majority of Americans concerning their policy of immigration and while there may be no connection, there may be a bit of fear beginning to seep into the governing class in Mexico which caused this bone to be thrown out....
BTW is there any way to change a nick besides being banned..
I think there may be many who may be uncomfortable seeing this nick.
Thank you in advance for any response.
that they do...that they do
I don't think this Mexican court decision has much to do with tourist dollars. I think they just actually made the right decision.
As far as changing your name, it can be done. I've seen it several times, although it's not automatically granted. Your name truly does suck, and it needs to be changed if you're not going to permanently marginalized here.
Do a Freepmail to Jim Robinson and ask him. He's not an unreasonable guy.
thank you...I'll go looking for that email
unless you happen to have it handy...I'll
even bend over so you may kick my butt to
get my lungs going....
and thanks again.
Mexico's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that suspects facing life in prison can be extradited, overturning a 4-year-old ban that had prevented many of the country's most notorious criminals from being sent to the United States.
---Mighty generous of them since they send their trash here illegally for the most part anyway.
almost handled, with sending out the email...
That dumb of me asking for the email address
I had that.
thanks
hope your evening is marvelous
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