Thread: Mexican Supreme Court reverses extradition ruling

written by: Paola Farer Web Producer
reported by: Chris Vanderveen 9NEWS Reporter

Created: 11/29/2005 6:10 PM MST - Updated: 11/29/2005 8:00 PM MST

DENVER - A ruling Tuesday by the Mexican Supreme Court could ease the dispute over the extradition of murder suspects to the U.S.


The high court overturned a 2001 decision that barred suspects from being extradited if they faced life in prison without parole.

The issue drew a great deal of attention in Colorado after the man suspected of shooting and killing Denver Police Detective Donnie Young fled to Mexico. Last week, the Mexican government agreed to return the suspect, Raul Gomez-Garcia, to the United States to face trial on a charge of second-degree murder. Gomez-Garcia can appeal the ruling.

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey reluctantly filed the second-degree murder charge in a case that would have likely resulted in a charge of first-degree murder if Gomez-Garcia was apprehended in the United States. A first-degree murder conviction results in a mandatory life sentence in Colorado

9News spoke with two people familiar with the case who don't believe the court's ruling will change the conditions of Gomez-Garcia's extradition. However they say, it could affect future cases. It's believed that there are more than 40 people wanted for murder in Colorado hiding out in Mexico.

This month, President Bush signed a foreign aid bill that includes a provision cutting aid to countries that refuse to extradite someone suspected of killing a police officer. The provision was sponsored by Rep. Bob Beauprez, R-CO, in response to the Gomez-Garcia case.

I didn't think the Mexican gov't would have done it out of the goodness of the their hearts. Good thing that money talks...