Deporting convicted killer wrong: U.N.

Toronto Star ^ | 8/28/03 | Staff

[TastyManatees]

Deporting convicted killer wrong: U.N.

MONTREAL—A United Nations committee has ruled Canada shirked its international responsibilities when it deported a convicted killer to the United States in 1998 even though he faced a death sentence.

In a decision experts say is a giant step forward for human rights, the U.N. Human Rights Committee dismissed Canada's arguments that its decision to deport Roger Judge didn't constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Charter of Rights.

The U.N. ruling, issued last week, said countries such as Canada that have abolished the death penalty are obliged to protect life in all circumstances.

"They may not remove, either by deportation or extradition, individuals from their jurisdiction if it may be reasonably anticipated they will be sentenced to death," the committee, said.

A Foreign Affairs Department spokesperson had no comment yesterday on the ruling.

Judge was sent to death row in Pennsylvania after being convicted of a pair of drive-by murders in 1984. He escaped and resurfaced in Vancouver, where he was sentenced to 10 years behind bars for a series of armed robberies and assaults.

Judge served his sentence in Quebec. When it ended, he argued before the Quebec Superior Court he had suffered cruel and unusual punishment because he spent 10 years in prison in Canada knowing he'd eventually be deported and put to death in the United States.

His arguments were rejected but the case later made its way to the United Nations.

Judge's Montreal lawyer, Eric Sutton, noted the U.N. ruling requires that Canada contact the committee within 90 days to tell it what action it has taken.

CANADIAN PRESS

[TastyManatees]

This is hilarious. U.N. Human Rights Committee deigns to interpret Canada's own version of the Bill of Rights. I'm sorry, I was laughing so hard there, I just fell off my chair.

Tasty Manatees

[dirtboy]

The U.N. ruling, issued last week, said countries such as Canada that have abolished the death penalty are obliged to protect life in all circumstances.

Unless, of course, when the life is a human fetus, at which point Canada should protect the ability to suck it out with a vacuum hose.

[Shermy]

Don't laugh. Chretien is bound to call it controlling authority.

[Ronin]

And people wonder why we laugh at the U.N.

[TastyManatees]

Oh stop it! I almost wet myself after hearing that one!

Tasty Manatees

[D. Brian Carter]

Pardon my "french", but f*** the United Nations. I haven't said that in a day or two, so just had to get it out.

[theFIRMbss]

> f*** the United Nations

[BlueLancer]

So, I guess we can expect UN marshals to come to the US to demand that he be released to their custody?

[Ed_in_NJ]

UNreal!

[tbpiper]

To the U.N., all life is precious, unless it's American, Jewish, or still in the womb.

[Calvin Locke]

This is hilarious.

So's the UN's support of Robert Mugabe, Saddam Hussein, etc.

I thought Canada wouldn't extradite US-wanted murderers because of the chance of the death penalty.

Unless the controlling authority promised not to seek the death penalty.

Charles(?) Ng comes to mind.
(alledged co-kidnapper/rapist/torturer/murderer - 26+, iirc)

[Gunrunner2]

>>"They may not remove, either by deportation or extradition, individuals from their jurisdiction if it may be reasonably anticipated they will be sentenced to death," the
committee, said. <<

So I guess all one need do is rob a bank and run to Canada, but first you must kill someone in order to avoid extradtition. Makes sense. . .NOT!!

Hmmm. . .extradite those that commit crimes less than a capitol offense, but keep those that commit the ultimate crime. . .reward them by protecting them.

Canadian. . .another word for "French."

[MalcolmS]

>>I thought Canada wouldn't extradite US-wanted murderers because of the chance of the death penalty.<<<

Canada has exhibited a somewhat pragmatic approach. In general, a Canadian citizen will not be extradited without a promise of no death penalty. However, a foreign national will be extradited. This is said to be in order to prevent Canada from becoming a haven for murderers on the run.

[GunnyHartman]

[cake_crumb]

" 'They may not remove, either by deportation or extradition, individuals from their jurisdiction if it may be reasonably anticipated they will be sentenced to death,' the committee, said"

Typical of the UN: meddle in the internal affairs of two free, sovereign states which dealt in a diplomatic and lawful manner. Looks like Canada might have just lost it's sovereignity, because Cretin will probably bow to the UN's authority.

Who's heading the Dictators' Rights Council now anyway? Lybia? Cuba?

[cake_crumb]

"So, I guess we can expect UN marshals to come to the US to demand that he be released to their custody?" <p.FOFLOL...I'd like to see them try. Who's army are they gonna back up their authority with?

[cake_crumb]

The UNhuman rights council strongly chastizes Canada for extraditing a convicted killer to the US where he faces the death penalty today. This is lauded as a victory for hum rights.

Last April, the UN elected Cuba to the UNhuman rights council even as Castro had 78 political dissidents jailed and was having political prisoners executed. This was spun as...uh...well...the UN really didn't give a reason.

[cake_crumb]

Love that pic ;- )

[basil]

re post #6---you took the words right out of my mouth! LOL!