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Weapons accused Christopher Tappin to enter guilty plea Weapons accused Christopher Tappin to enter guilty plea
(35 minutes later)
A retired businessman extradited to the US on charges of selling weapons parts to Iran is to change his plea to guilty after reaching a deal with prosecutors.A retired businessman extradited to the US on charges of selling weapons parts to Iran is to change his plea to guilty after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
Christopher Tappin, 65, had always denied trying to sell batteries for surface-to-air missiles, claiming he was the victim of an FBI sting.Christopher Tappin, 65, had always denied trying to sell batteries for surface-to-air missiles, claiming he was the victim of an FBI sting.
The BBC's Alastair Leithead said Mr Tappin would enter a guilty plea when he appears in court next week.The BBC's Alastair Leithead said Mr Tappin would enter a guilty plea when he appears in court next week.
Mr Tappin, from London, was due to go on trial in Texas on 5 November.Mr Tappin, from London, was due to go on trial in Texas on 5 November.
If convicted, the former president of the Kent Golf Society could have faced 35 years in jail.If convicted, the former president of the Kent Golf Society could have faced 35 years in jail.
Mr Tappin was arrested by UK police in 2010 and fought a two-year battle against extradition.
The former director of Surrey-based Brooklands International Freight Services strongly denied the charges, saying he believed he was exporting batteries for the car industry in the Netherlands.
Mr Tappin was eventually flown to the US in February after British judges said the extradition was lawful.
The grandfather-of-one was then held at New Mexico's Otero County detention centre for two months before being released from custody on bail of $1m (£620,000).
His bail conditions required him to wear an electronic tag, to surrender his passport, and to travel only to El Paso and Houston, where he has been staying with one of his lawyers.
Speaking in April, Mr Tappin, of Orpington, south-east London, said: "I'm not a terrorist.
"I've never had any connections with terrorism and I'm just appalled that things could come to this sort of stage - especially in my life now, when I'm 65, been retired for four years and enjoying retirement."