The Attorney General’s Office has commenced work to extradite US national Dean Jay Fletcher from American Samoa to Tonga.
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.
Fletcher is charged with the crime of murder, and in the alternative manslaughter or causing grievous harm, and also interference with the course of justice, and two counts of escape from lawful custody of Tonga Police.
Tonga and the United States are a party to an extradition treaty that was re-affirmed on 13 April 1977 to apply between Tonga and the United States.
This Treaty applies to American Samoa as a territory of the United States.
After receiving a response from the United States counterparts, on 5 October 2016 an application was sent to the US, from the Attorney General’s Office on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga, for a provisional arrest warrant of the Accused to be issued by the United States Federal Court, pending a formal application for extradition to be sent through diplomatic channels.
The Attorney General’s Office says it is now awaiting advice from US authorities on the progress of its application for a provisional arrest warrant against the Accused, and confirmation of the process and legal requirements for an extradition request to the US to return the Accused from American Samoa.
At the same time the AG’s Office is currently preparing the normal information required for a formal extradition request for the Accused to be sent through diplomatic channels to the United States Government once the process and information required is confirmed from the United States authorities.
The AG’s Office said extradition is a legally complicated process that would involve determination of complex legal issues through all legal avenues in foreign courts, and therefore it is likely to take some time to complete.
Fletcher escaped from Police custody in Vava’u last Thursday.
He fled in his yacht following a five-hour standoff with police where he allegedly threatened to set their boat on fire.
Fletcher is currently being detained in Pagopago where he was apprehended this week.
Photo: US fugitive Dean Fletcher