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A 47-year-old suspected terrorist, Daniel Andreas San Diego, recently appeared in court in Wales for an extradition hearing after being on the run for more than 20 years following bombings in San Francisco, California, in 2003. The FBI had listed him as one of their “most wanted fugitives” before he was finally apprehended in a remote location near Maenan, Conwy, last November. The decision on his extradition to the United States, where he could face lengthy imprisonment, is to be made following the hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court.
The court proceedings revealed that Mr. San Diego’s car was searched after bombings at two companies in August and September of 2003. These companies were associated with the pharmaceutical company Huntingdon Life Sciences, a target of animal rights activists for over a decade. While no injuries occurred in the bombings, Mr. San Diego was stopped by a traffic warden an hour before one of the blasts in Pleasanton. Subsequent searches of his house and car unveiled materials consistent with the construction of explosive devices, leading to the discovery of his fingerprints on some items.
Joel Smith KC, representing US authorities, highlighted the charges Mr. San Diego faces if extradited, including causing damage with explosives, possessing an unregistered firearm, and using explosives. However, David Patton, a specialist in American criminal law, raised concerns about potential violations of the US Constitution and the risk of double jeopardy in the prosecution. The defense, led by Mark Summers KC, argued against the coherence of the charges and mentioned that new counts added to the indictment could result in a lengthy prison sentence if a terrorism enhancement is imposed.
Mr. Patton also expressed worries about prosecutors in the US stacking charges against a defendant for the same conduct, potentially leading to life imprisonment and coercing guilty pleas without a trial. This approach, he stated, has significantly reduced the number of trials taking place in the US, emphasizing the risks involved for defendants. The extradition hearing is ongoing, with various legal aspects and constitutional concerns being deliberated upon
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