Cop wanted for murder in JA fails in bid to prevent extradition from USA

A US court has denied granting a writ of Habeus Corpus to an ex-policeman who was seeking to block his extradition to Jamaica.

The ex-cop identified as Mark Russell is wanted in Jamaica for the murder of Ravin Thompson.

Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn says Russell and another ex-police officer left Jamaica before warrants were executed on them after the DPP ruled that they be charged for the murder of Thompson.

The other ex-cop who has not been named remains at large.

Ms. Llewellyn says an extradition request for Mr. Russell was made by the DPP's office   on behalf of the Jamaican Government to the US Government, after it was discovered that Russell was in US custody.

An order for his extradition was made last September.

Mr. Russell took the matter to court in the US to appeal the order in a bid to block his extradition to Jamaica.

He argued, among other things, that he would not get a fair trial in Jamaica and that probable cause was lacking in that Jamaica provided only a prosecutors summary of the evidence to the US authorities.

However, the court did not grant his application.

DPP Llewellyn says local authorities are awaiting his extradition.