Extradition of American to take place within 15 days

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for the extradition to the US within 15 days of an American man to face charges relating to the deaths of three students there in a traffic accident.

After rejecting Frederick David Russell's appeal yesterday against a High Court order for his extradition, the three-judge Supreme Court made an order returning Mr Russell to prison to await the making of an order for his extradition by the Minister for Justice. Under the terms of the Extradition Acts, an order for delivery must be made within 15 days.

Mr Russell (26), and his girlfriend, Hazel McNaboe, were in court yesterday for the hearing of his appeal which was rejected on all grounds.

Mr Russell was arrested in Dublin last November after allegedly jumping bail after he was charged in Washington state on three counts each of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.

He also faces charges arising out of the alleged cashing of a cheque on his father's account.

At the time of his arrest here, Mr Russell had been living under the alias "David Carroll" with his girlfriend in Celbridge and was working as a security guard at a women's clothing store in Dublin city centre.

The extradition proceedings arose from a road accident on June 4th, 2001, near Mr Russell's home town of Pullman, Washington, when his vehicle allegedly ploughed into a car carrying students, all in their early 20s, from the nearby Washington State University.

Three students were killed while three more were seriously injured. Mr Russell, who suffered only minor injuries, was later charged in connection with the incident and released on bail.

Mr Russell claimed that when he left the US, he was in fear of his life. He said he had received numerous threats both of a physical and verbal nature which were directly attributable to his alleged involvement in the road traffic accident.

He claimed phone calls were made to his home and he had received letters which contained threats on his life.

The High Court also heard that a woman who stopped to help at the scene allowed Mr Russell to sit in her car and she later reported to patrol officers that he smelled of alcohol. After the crash, Mr Russell was taken to hospital where he was placed under arrest.

The court was also told that Mr Russell gave blood samples and he was found to have had excess alcohol which was 50 per cent over the statutory maximum. A trace of cannabis was also discovered, it was stated.