Take me back to Britain to face trial - Fugitive
The British national, who allegedly murdered his girlfriend and his two sons, has voluntarily subjected himself to repatriation to the United Kingdom (UK) to face the law.
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The suspect, Arthur Simpson-Kent, is alleged to have killed his girlfriend, a former EastEnders actress, Sian Blake, and her two sons and bolted to Ghana days after being questioned about the crime.
But he is now ready to face trial in the UK.
His decision was announced through his lawyer, Mr Justice Srem-Sai, at the Accra High Court yesterday after state prosecutors had announced they had received a formal request from the UK for his extradition.
“We have taken his side of the story. His side of the story is completely contrary to what the prosecution has read before this honourable court.
“Particularly, the accused is not running away from justice. He is not in Ghana to avoid criminal proceedings and based on that he does not think that this extradition proceeding will be necessary.
“In fact, but for the fact that he has been detained by our authorities, he would be in the UK by now and he is willing and has actually instructed us to inform this honourable court to use its authority and inform the Attorney-General’s Department that he is submitting himself voluntarily to be taken to the UK,” Mr Srem-Sai told the court.
Were you coerced?
The presiding judge then queried the accused person if he had been coerced to state his current position, to which he answered in the negative.
Judge: So I take it that you were not coerced into coming out with this decision?
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Simpson-Kent: Yes, my Lord.
Nonetheless, the court decided to exercise caution by inviting the prosecution to tender in evidence the necessary documents to facilitate Simpson-Kent’s extradition.
Investigator testifies
Testifying, the investigator in charge of the case, Detective Corporal Alhaji Ali Ganani, said his outfit was notified by Interpol of the issue and the possible relocation of Simpson-Kent to Ghana.
He said an intelligence report indicated that the suspect was hiding in the Western Region.
The investigator said a team of detectives was sent to locate and arrest the fugitive, who was subsequently picked up at Butre with the assistance of the chiefs and people of the community.
Documents received
He said he received a case brief with an attached arrest warrant issued against the accused person by the district court in the UK.
“We forwarded the warrant to the Minister of the Interior for his order for the arrest of the accused person,” the witness said.
Background
Simpson-Kent, while escaping from the UK, travelled to Glasgow in Scotland, from where he flew to Ghana via Amsterdam on December 19, 2015.
Inquiries made at the Kotoka International Airport confirmed that he arrived in Ghana on December 19, 2015.
The bodies of Sian Blake, 43; Zachary, eight, and Amon, four, were discovered in the garden of their London home on Tuesday, December 15, 2015.