London - Former Chilean dictator Gen Augusto Pinochet (83) is entitled to "absolute immunity" from prosecution in courts outside his homeland in respect of his sovereign acts, the House of Lords was told yesterday.
Ms Clare Montgomery QC told a panel of seven Law Lords that the acts making up the basis of the allegations of human rights crimes levelled against Gen Pinochet by the Spanish authorities were "archetypical" acts of government.
Ms Montgomery outlined her submissions during the fifth day of the latest hearing into whether he is immune from arrest and potential extradition to Spain over human rights crimes allegedly committed during his 1973-90 rule.