Brit Aldhouse to be extradited to Phuket

PHUKET: British national Lee Aldhouse, wanted on murder charges in Phuket, has lost his High Court appeal and will be extradited to Phuket.

The news of the UK High Court dismissing Mr Aldhouse’s appeal follows High Court judges agreeing to postpone the extradition hearing so that Mr Aldhouse’s lawyers would have more time to prepare their case.

Mr Aldhouse successfully fled Thailand after allegedly stabbing American Deshawn Longfellow to death in August 2010. He was later arrested at Heathrow Airport on an unrelated charge when he tried to re-enter the UK.

Mr Aldhouse lost his initial extradition hearing. Facing a return to Phuket to answer for murder charges, he filed an appeal claiming that conditions in Thai prisons infringed on human rights.

UK Home Secretary Theresa May’s decision to allow his extradition was initially overturned by High Court judges who ruled that Mr Aldhouse’s claims were at least worthy of being heard.

That appeal has now been dismissed.