Suspect in court after 14-year battle
the US Department of Justiceusticeandtheandthe Office of International Affairs on this.”
The marathon extradition process compounded the anguish for Joshua’s family. Mum Patricia said of Harkins: “He’s like a Houdini – he keeps pulling these appeals out of nowhere. He’s a slick one.” She was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Jacksonvi lle Sheri f f ’ s Of f ice Department of Corrections records show Harkins faces charges of murder, armed robbery with a firearm and two motoring charges which are believed to be related to the case.
The jail unit holding Harkins – Jacksonville’s John E. Goode pre-trial detention facility – allows inmates just one two-hour visit per week.
Harkins was finally ordered to be returned to the US earlier this month.
He was indicted in 2000 over Joshua’s murder but skipped bail before the case got to court and fled back to Scotland.
But Harkins was caught when he crashed a car into a taxi and killed passenger Jean O’Neill, 62, in his home town in 2003. He was jailed for five yearsy and US authorities beganb ex t radit ion proceedings.p
His 14- year battle againsta being deported to Jacksonville became theth longest case of its kind in Britain.
US prosecutors assured UK authorities they will notno seek the death penalty for Harkins if convicted.
B But his lawyers argued life imprisonment without the possibility of parole breached the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Strasbourg court previously ruled against Harkins but he was allowed a second appeal in 2015.
The Grand Chamber of the court this month said the course should not be opened again, meaning US authorities were free to go ahead with the transfer.