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| Domenico Rancadore: Mafia boss dubbed 'The Professor' wins extradition battle | Domenico Rancadore: Mafia boss dubbed 'The Professor' wins extradition battle |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A convicted Mafia fugitive known as 'The Professor' will not be extradited back to Italy, Westminster Magistrates' Court has ruled. | A convicted Mafia fugitive known as 'The Professor' will not be extradited back to Italy, Westminster Magistrates' Court has ruled. |
| Domenico Rancadore was arrested after evading Italian authorities for 20 years. | |
| They accused him of fleeing Italy as he faced trial over his alleged Cosa Nostra "man of honour" connections. | They accused him of fleeing Italy as he faced trial over his alleged Cosa Nostra "man of honour" connections. |
| District judge Howard Riddle said a recent decision of the Administrative Court, which binds lower courts in England, had led to his decision. | District judge Howard Riddle said a recent decision of the Administrative Court, which binds lower courts in England, had led to his decision. |
| Mr Rancadore, who had been living in a quiet west London suburb, was convicted in 1999 of Mafia association and extortion in Trabia, near Palermo, and is wanted to serve a seven-year jail sentence. | |
| In a statement outside the court Mr Rancadore's solicitor, Karen Totner, claimed her client had been 'misrepresented by the press': "He made a deliberate decision 20 years ago to walk away from the Mafia and all that is associated with it", she said. | |
| "He has led a blame-free existence in the United Kingdom where he has resided peacefully with his wife and family." | "He has led a blame-free existence in the United Kingdom where he has resided peacefully with his wife and family." |
| She added: "I suspect that this case is not yet over but I hope that this judgment is an indication of a successful final outcome." | She added: "I suspect that this case is not yet over but I hope that this judgment is an indication of a successful final outcome." |
| She added that Mr Rancadore, who had been living in Uxbridge, has a "serious heart condition so being in prison is very difficult for him". | |
| Judge Riddle told the court today that his original decision was to extradite Mr Rancadore, who has a serious heart condition. | Judge Riddle told the court today that his original decision was to extradite Mr Rancadore, who has a serious heart condition. |
| In an original draft, Mr Riddle said he included that he was satisfied the European Arrest Warrant was valid and that extradition was "compatible with the defendant's Convention rights, including prison conditions". | In an original draft, Mr Riddle said he included that he was satisfied the European Arrest Warrant was valid and that extradition was "compatible with the defendant's Convention rights, including prison conditions". |
| However, in a dramatic turnaround, the judge said he changed his mind following the ruling in a similar case involving the Court of Florence and Hayle Abdi Badre at the Royal Courts of Justice last week. | However, in a dramatic turnaround, the judge said he changed his mind following the ruling in a similar case involving the Court of Florence and Hayle Abdi Badre at the Royal Courts of Justice last week. |
| That judgement stated that there was an insufficient assurance that if Badre was returned to Italy he would not face "the risk of being exposed to prison conditions that would breach his Article 3 rights". | That judgement stated that there was an insufficient assurance that if Badre was returned to Italy he would not face "the risk of being exposed to prison conditions that would breach his Article 3 rights". |
| Judge Riddle said today: "The judgement of the administrative court is binding on me. | Judge Riddle said today: "The judgement of the administrative court is binding on me. |
| "The higher court accepted that a similar assurance given in that case was in good faith, but was not sufficient." | "The higher court accepted that a similar assurance given in that case was in good faith, but was not sufficient." |
| He added: "I cannot distinguish this case from Badre. | He added: "I cannot distinguish this case from Badre. |
| "While it is true that I heard more up-to-date evidence than was available to the court in that case, my intended decision, as expressed above, was based squarely on my acceptance of an assurance that has recently, and in similar circumstances, been rejected by a higher court." | "While it is true that I heard more up-to-date evidence than was available to the court in that case, my intended decision, as expressed above, was based squarely on my acceptance of an assurance that has recently, and in similar circumstances, been rejected by a higher court." |
| In the case of Badre, the written judgement said: "...the assurance in this case is insufficient to persuade me that, if the Appellant were returned to Italy, he would not face the risk of being exposed to prison conditions that would breach his Article 3 rights." | In the case of Badre, the written judgement said: "...the assurance in this case is insufficient to persuade me that, if the Appellant were returned to Italy, he would not face the risk of being exposed to prison conditions that would breach his Article 3 rights." |
| Two European arrest warrants were issued for Rancadore last August, and his counsel, Alun Jones QC, told a previous hearing that the difference between them was significant. | Two European arrest warrants were issued for Rancadore last August, and his counsel, Alun Jones QC, told a previous hearing that the difference between them was significant. |
| Mr Jones said the level of crime had been elevated in the second warrant, adding that it was a "deliberate decision taken to prejudice this man's rights". | Mr Jones said the level of crime had been elevated in the second warrant, adding that it was a "deliberate decision taken to prejudice this man's rights". |
| Today, Mr Jones described the second arrest warrant as "dramatic" and "lurid". | Today, Mr Jones described the second arrest warrant as "dramatic" and "lurid". |
| At a previous hearing, Mr Rancadore said he came to the UK to give his children "a good life", and to bring his time in Italy to an end. | At a previous hearing, Mr Rancadore said he came to the UK to give his children "a good life", and to bring his time in Italy to an end. |
| He said the maxi-trial in which he was a defendant in the mid-1980s - involving 460 defendants, one of whom was his father - was a "terrible experience". He said he was looked upon differently afterwards, even though he returned to work as a teacher. | He said the maxi-trial in which he was a defendant in the mid-1980s - involving 460 defendants, one of whom was his father - was a "terrible experience". He said he was looked upon differently afterwards, even though he returned to work as a teacher. |
| He added: "I was a little bit worried that they would arrest me again." | He added: "I was a little bit worried that they would arrest me again." |
| Asked about changing his name to Marc Skinner, he said it was to end ties with Italy, adding: "This was the only way." | Asked about changing his name to Marc Skinner, he said it was to end ties with Italy, adding: "This was the only way." |
| Mr Rancadore said he did not even contact his mother or father back home, saying: "I wanted to end everything with Sicily." | Mr Rancadore said he did not even contact his mother or father back home, saying: "I wanted to end everything with Sicily." |
| He wanted to be "away from the atmosphere", and said he was "under stress all the time" when he was there. Mr Rancadore added: "I try to live the best I can." | He wanted to be "away from the atmosphere", and said he was "under stress all the time" when he was there. Mr Rancadore added: "I try to live the best I can." |
| Additional reporting by Press Association | Additional reporting by Press Association |