Spain blocks extradition of Franco-era 'torturer'
Spain blocks extradition of Franco-era 'torturer'
Published: 25 Apr 2014 16:33 GMT+02:00
Updated: 25 Apr 2014 16:33 GMT+02:00
Spain's National Court on Friday rejected Argentina's request for a retired Spanish policeman to be extradited on alleged charges against humanity, arguing the statute of limitations for the crimes had expired.
The extradition hearing came after an Argentine judge issued an international arrest warrant for Jesús Muñecas Aguilar, 75, under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows certain human rights abuses to be pursued and tried elsewhere if the country in which they occurred did not investigate.
Muñecas is wanted for alleged torture carried out in 1968, during the reign of former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. But Spain's National Court refused to extradite him, ruling the statue of limitations on the crime in question had expired ten years after that date.
The court also ruled that the alleged torture did not constitute a crime against humanity because it was isolated action "without apparent connection to the crime of genocide" during Spain's Franco era being investigated by Argentina.
More:
http://www.thelocal.es/20140425/spain-rejects-extradition-of-franco-era-torturer-argentina-human-rights
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Spanish courts have been eager to try BFEE members. This forced Spanish courts to assert statute of limitations which the US can use to dismiss Spanish extradition warrants.
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