Dean Jay Fletcher

A court in Hawaii court ordered the release of Dean Jay Fletcher who is alleged to have killed his Canadian wife in Vava'u.

Mr Fletcher fled Tongan authorities to American Samoa where he was arrested last October by US federal agents.

Tonga sought extradition but the US Secretary of State denied the request.

The US was worried that without a legal aid system, Mr Fletcher would not have legal representation or a fair trial.

But Tonga's acting Attorney General, 'Aminiasi Kefu, said the defendant had already hired lawyers before he fled.

Dean Jay Fletcher escaped from Tongan police in September and sailed to American Samoa where he was arrested and charged for entering the US territory illegally.

The US Department of Justice had requested his extradition after he was turned over to US Marshal Service agents in Pago Pago and taken to Honolulu.

US Magistrate Judge Kenneth Mansfield concluded that Mr Fletcher is extraditable for each offence for which extradition was requested.

Fletcher is charged with murder and it’s alleged he murdered his wife, Patricia Linne Kearney at Neiafu, Vava’u a few months ago.

The AG’s Office said after being informed by the Police Commissioner that the Accused had absconded from Tonga, and arrived at American Samoa, the Office made immediate contact on 4 October 2016 with counterparts at the United States Department of Justice in Washington D.C., USA, and American Samoa, in order to commence an extradition process with a view to return the Accused to the Kingdom to be tried for the charges laid against him.