ISIS ‘Beatles’ ‘should be put on trial in UK’
Families speak out as pair appear in US federal court
THE ISIS ‘ Beatles’ should face trial in this country over the murders of two British men, relatives said last night.
Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh appeared in a US federal court on Wednesday charged with a catalogue of crimes committed in the terror group’s ‘caliphate’.
But they are not facing specific charges over the deaths of British hostages David Haines and Alan Henning.
Mr Haines’s brother Mike said it would be ‘brilliant’ if a second trial could take place here once the US legal process has run its course.
The 54-year- old, from Dundee, said: ‘If they were to be brought back to the UK for trial, that would be a brilliant outcome and one that would be welcomed by all the families involved.
‘If that were something that could be done under the law, then I would certainly welcome it.’
He added: ‘We have confidence in the American justice system but our focus now is on moving forward, hoping that something positive can come from the barbaric acts these people committed. The pain we experienced as families was excruciating when we lost our loved ones and the last three years have been a long, horrible waiting game.
‘I, like the other families, am relieved that the fate of these two men is closer to being decided but this is just the beginning.’
He dubbed the defendants ‘cowards’ whose ‘one aim was to spread hatred’ through ‘barbaric’ acts.
The British Government could apply for the two men to be extradited once their trial in the US is concluded but it is understood no decision has yet been taken on whether to pursue such a step.
Material from British intelligence will play a key role in their US trial but there are problems using such material in UK courts.
Aid worker Mr Haines, 44, from Perth, was beheaded in Syria in 2014 after being held prisoner for 18 months.
Fellow aid worker Mr Henning, 47, from Lancashire, was also beheaded in 2014 after being captured by extremists in Syria.
Kotey, 37, and Elsheikh, 32, could spend the rest of their lives in prison if they are convicted for their alleged roles in killing four American hostages.
The two defendants, who both grew up in London but have been stripped of British citizenship, were airlifted from US custody in Iraq on Wednesday in a top secret operation.
The pair are said to have been part of a cell of executioners
‘This is just the beginning’
known as ‘The Beatles’ because of their British accents.
On Wednesday they appeared in court in Alexandria, Virginia, via video link from prison.
A detention hearing and arraignment were scheduled for today.
The 24- page US i ndictment describes Kotey and Elsheikh as ‘ l eading participants’ i n the hostage-takings.
Mr Henning’s brother, Reg Henning, said: ‘I hope they rot in jail. That’ll be getting off lightly compared with Alan.’