Judge allows extradition request for Kebble murder accused

Judge Ferdi Preller turned down an urgent application by Stratton\'s lawyers to interdict the National Director of Public Prosecutions from submitting a request to Australian authorities for his extradition, says a report on the SABC News site. Stratton (72), who is being treated for cancer, wanted to stop any extradition proceedings pending the outcome of his application to declare the extradition agreement between SA and Australia invalid. He contended the extradition agreement was invalid because of failures to comply with certain formalities. Two other similar applications, to declare the extradition agreement between the US and SA invalid, are also presently pending before the High Court. If Stratton was in fact extradited, convicted and even serving a sentence before a final ruling on the constitutionality of the extradition agreement, he would probably still have civil remedies (such as a claim for damages) available to him, Preller said. Andrew Leask, the chief special investigator, said the State intended to prove that at least Agliotti and Stratton had conspired to have Kebble shot and killed. Preller said the crime problem in SA, the importance of maintaining law and order, and the court’s duty to protect and uphold civilised standards as far as possible, outweighed Stratton’s possible inconvenience, humiliation and costs in facing extradition proceedings. Full report on the SABC News site