This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-27437281
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Paul and Sandra Dunham: 'Suicide bid' extradition couple remanded | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A retired British couple facing extradition to the US on fraud charges have been remanded in custody after an apparent suicide bid. | |
Paul and Sandra Dunham from Northampton appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court after being transferred from hospital. | |
Judge Howard Riddle said the couple had taken enough drugs to do themselves "real harm". | |
He rejected arguments from their legal team that they would not try again. | |
They had been due to surrender to the authorities at Belgravia Police Station in London on Thursday morning. | |
'Cry for help' | |
When reporters went to their home on Windingbrook Lane for arranged interviews that morning no-one answered the door and police were called. | |
Officers forced their way into the property. | |
Later that day, Paul Dunham told BBC Radio Northampton he and his wife, Sandra, both 58, had attempted to kill themselves. | |
At Friday's hearing the judge said Mrs Dunham had told a nurse at Northampton General Hospital it had been a "cry for help". | |
Judge Riddle said: "There is simply no other conclusion that I can reach on the face of it than, at the very least, it was to delay or prevent the [extradition] process from taking place." | |
The court heard Home Secretary Theresa May had granted the couple 14 days before further attempts were made to extradite them. | |
"In 14 days or thereabouts a decision will be taken that extradition is imminent and at that stage, despite the protestations that they won't, there is a real risk they will take steps to harm themselves," the judge said. | |
Thirteen charges | |
The Dunhams had previously said they were ready to kill themselves rather than face extradition and a lengthy period of detention in the US. | |
They had fought and lost an extradition battle over concerns about their health and possible treatment in US custody. | They had fought and lost an extradition battle over concerns about their health and possible treatment in US custody. |
Mr Dunham had been chief executive and president of Pace, a US company manufacturing soldering irons for the electronics industry. | Mr Dunham had been chief executive and president of Pace, a US company manufacturing soldering irons for the electronics industry. |
He was indicted on 13 counts of fraud and money laundering by a grand jury in Maryland in December 2011. | He was indicted on 13 counts of fraud and money laundering by a grand jury in Maryland in December 2011. |
Mrs Dunham is accused of aiding and abetting him. The couple worked in the US between 1999 and 2009. | |
They were due to attend Belgravia police station at 10:00 BST on Thursday before being taken to Heathrow Airport to meet US marshals to be extradited. | |
The US marshals said they were unsure of the next step and were consulting the overseas investigation department. | The US marshals said they were unsure of the next step and were consulting the overseas investigation department. |