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Extraditions have been in the news a lot recently with the cases of Gary McKinnon, Julian Assange and Abu Qatada garnering particular attention for vastly differing reasons. Now a former expat is being extradited to Thailand from the UK for the first time.
Lee Aldhouse, from Yardley, Birmingham, is accused of stabbing to death former US marine Dashawn Longfellow, after a bar brawl on the popular island resort of Phuket in August 2010.
Britain and Thailand have had an extradition treaty since 1911 but no British national has previously been extradited between the countries.
"This is the first time in 101 years that the UK has approved a request," said Police Colonel Sinard Ajhanwong.
"Prior to this case they had declined to send suspects back to us, so that emphasises the significance of this case."
Mr Aldhouse fled back to the UK and spent two years fighting extradition. In common with the case of Abu Qatada the Home Secretary Theresa May unsuccessfully attempted to have the appeal blocked. The High Court, however, rejected the appeal.
Despite murder being an offence punishable by lethal injection in Thailand, the Thai authorities promised not to pursue the death penalty in this case.
Instead, if convicted, Lee Aldhouse will be interred in Phuket’s century old jail alongside 1900 other inmates despite the jail having been designed to house 750.
