UK citizen Christopher Tappin
sentenced to 33 months in US arms case – for selling batteries!
65-year-old
denies trying to sell batteries for missiles destined for Tehran
Case
echoes the plight of 46-year-old Asperger's sufferer Gary McKinnon
ent to jail in America for selling batteries which have many applications, allegedly for
missiles?
“.If
I wanted anything, it was to be tried in the UK, not in America, because the
Americans have never had to produce one piece of evidence.All the evidence
shown to the court so far has come from our side.
'They
have not had to produce any evidence whatsoever. We believe there is no
evidence ... it's just an accusation.
'By virtue of an accusation
they are allowed to extradite people from one country to another."
He said this "seems ridiculous and a disgrace to our country'.
He said this "seems ridiculous and a disgrace to our country'.
Shortly
after 10.30am yesterday, Mr Tappin's lawyer Karen Todner said: 'Mr Tappin has
been taken now by British extradition officers to the aeroplane, where he is
going to be handed over to US marshals.
'He
will be arriving in El Paso this afternoon. He will be appearing in court on
Monday morning, so he will be in custody over the weekend.'
Ms
Todner said Mr Tappin would be handcuffed and seated between two US marshals on
the flight, which is due to land in Texas around 4pm local time..”
The US
plea-bargaining system allows prosecutors to act as ‘judge, jury and
executioner’.