Cecil killer could have a trouble fighting extradition, experts say

[restorefreedom]

Walter Palmer, the wealthy big-game hunter who killed a famous lion, could be headed back to Africa — if the Zimbabwe government has its way.

......

The investigation could lead to charges under U.S. law. If Palmer is charged with similar offenses by Zimbabwe, that would clear the way for him to be extradited to that country under a treaty Zimbabwe entered into with the United States in July 1997. It calls for persons of interest to be extradited between the two countries in cases that include a conspiracy or attempt to commit a crime, aiding and abetting a crime, or being an accessory.

.....

Ohlin said the State Department would be hard-pressed to turn down a formal extradition request from Zimbabwe. If it did, in a worst-case scenario Zimbabwe could become a sanctuary for criminals who flee crimes committed in the United States.

“If the U.S. doesn’t play ball in this case,” Ohlin said, “in the future if the U.S. wants someone extradited, Zimbabwe can say, ‘We’re not going to help you out.’?”


http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/cecil-the-lions-killer-may-have-trouble-avoiding-extradition-experts-say/2015/07/31/6100c7cc-37be-11e5-9739-170df8af8eb9_story.html

good. he deserves it.

[PoliticAverse]

1. "The extradition process could take years to play out." n/t

[Gothmog]

2. This dentist needs to be extradicted

[NV Whino]

3. Heh, I read that as extracted

Which works just as well.

[eppur_se_muova]

5. LOL, that was my first reading too. nt

[newfie11]

4. Send him on the next plane!

[snot]

6. I'm curious to know more about the process. . . .

. . . does anyone know what U.S. law he's alleged to have violated?

[Sweet Freedom]

7. I don't know what (or if) the US will charge him with

but from the article it looks like Zimbabwe has begun the process of charging him with illegal poaching.

[geek tragedy]

8. Poaching is illegal in the US as well. nt

[madville]

9. I wonder how similar the laws have to be?

I doubt there is a law in the US specifically making African lion poaching illegal. There may be similar US federal poaching laws for say bears or mountain goats or whatever, I'm interested to see how this works out in the courts over the next couple of years.

[seafan]

10. The Lacey Act and the Travel Act.

Info here and here.

The Lacey Act is a U.S. law that bars trading in wildlife that has been illegally killed, transported or sold.

The Travel Act is a federal law that 'forbids foreign travel with the intent to engage in certain “unlawful activities” overseas. One of those activities is bribery. If Palmer traveled to Zimbabwe to hunt exotic species, and planned to bribe guides if necessary to access his prey, that offense would fall within the broad scope of the Travel Act. Palmer could be prosecuted in America for it.'

Officials in Zimbabwe have indicated that Palmer may have committed bribery.