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Missile suspect Christopher Tappin court day delayed | |
(1 day later) | |
A retired British man being held in the US for allegedly conspiring to sell batteries for use in Iranian missiles has seen his first court appearance delayed. | |
Christopher Tappin, 65, from south-east London, was extradited on Friday. He is being held in isolation at his own request at a prison in El Paso, Texas. | Christopher Tappin, 65, from south-east London, was extradited on Friday. He is being held in isolation at his own request at a prison in El Paso, Texas. |
Mr Tappin was originally due to appear in court on Monday. | |
The hearing will now take place at 14:30 CST (19:30 GMT) on Tuesday. | |
The British Embassy says it has made contact with Mr Tappin through his lawyer. | |
At the court hearing, he will be informed of the charges against him. A date will then be set for a bail hearing, likely to be later this week. | |
He denies trying to sell batteries for use by Iran in Hawk missiles and says he has been the victim of an FBI sting. | He denies trying to sell batteries for use by Iran in Hawk missiles and says he has been the victim of an FBI sting. |
The BBC's Jonathan Blake in Washington said Mr Tappin's lawyers say they will argue "vigorously" for him to be granted bail on the grounds that he is not a danger to the public or likely to abscond. | The BBC's Jonathan Blake in Washington said Mr Tappin's lawyers say they will argue "vigorously" for him to be granted bail on the grounds that he is not a danger to the public or likely to abscond. |
If convicted, he faces up to 35 years in jail. | If convicted, he faces up to 35 years in jail. |
Less evidence | Less evidence |
Mr Tappin, of Orpington, fought against his extradition through the British courts who ruled that his extradition was lawful. | Mr Tappin, of Orpington, fought against his extradition through the British courts who ruled that his extradition was lawful. |
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has refused to intervene. | The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has refused to intervene. |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that under the UK-US extradition treaty, certain procedures had to be followed and that was what had happened in Mr Tappin's case. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that under the UK-US extradition treaty, certain procedures had to be followed and that was what had happened in Mr Tappin's case. |
On Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said that Mr Tappin's case had been thoroughly considered by Home Secretary Theresa May - but that she was also looking carefully at the full findings of last year's extradition review. | On Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said that Mr Tappin's case had been thoroughly considered by Home Secretary Theresa May - but that she was also looking carefully at the full findings of last year's extradition review. |
Critics of the treaty say it makes the extradition of British nationals easier because the US authorities have to produce less evidence to support their case. | Critics of the treaty say it makes the extradition of British nationals easier because the US authorities have to produce less evidence to support their case. |
But last year, a massive review of extradition by a senior judge found that the treaty was fair to British citizens. | But last year, a massive review of extradition by a senior judge found that the treaty was fair to British citizens. |
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