US-UK Parental Kidnapping Extradition Case

[Martin]

Here's a report from the UK. I watched the item on the news here in the UK  last night and immediately felt that this women was being treated as a victim by the media when she had in fact abducted her children. She says that her husband never sought custody (not relevant and not an issue) and that she never sought to hide from the authorities, but these are also arguments that many abductors, including my ex-wife in Brazil, have used. There's a lot wrong with US-UK extradition arrangements but this is a clear case of international child abduction.


http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/uk+extradition+laws+to+be+reviewed/3762487

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Martin

[forthelost]

Her husband did seek custody, by the way - she never showed up at the hearing. But hey, let's not let the facts get in the way of the story here.

[Martin]

Article in Eileen Clark's local paper gets more comments pointing out the truth - looks like she's got more than she bargained for:


http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/8382978.Extradition_worry_for_family_as_FBI_puts_mum_on__most_wanted__list/

Other people that need to be made aware of the truth about this are Channel 4 News and Shami Chakrabati, the director of 'Liberty' who has really shown herself up on this one. Get emailing guys.

Karl did point out elsewhere that this extradition law rankles in the UK for many reasons - not least the fact that it is one-sided - and he's absolutely right. The Gary McKinnon case is a valid example of a British citizen being targeted for extradition to the States when there's no reciprocity. However, the Eileen Clark case is not. She is a child abductor who fled justice in the US and she is not a British citizen.

[forthelost]

I'm really not that familiar with this extradition law - I've only begun to read about it. But this case doesn't have a gray area.

[KarlHindle]

I agree there is no grey area - she should be extradited to face the charges. 

We had something similar not so long ago and there is a BIG question - the children are adults, like it or not, so why are the authorities pumping time, energy and resources into what is effectively a dead case when there are so many young children still out there?

I would like to see every child abductor caught and face the consequences but if the choice is between e.g. going after Carlos' very young son or a woman whose children adults, it seems to me pretty obvious where the priorities should lie.

[SageDad]

Update (this has also been talked about here: http://bringseanhome.org/forums/index.php/topic,3385.0.html )

Really getting tired of hearing about how abducting mothers "fled with their kids" btw...

Mum who left U.S 13 years ago extradited to face kidnap

15/03/2011

A MOTHER who fled the US with her children 13 years ago was yesterday ordered to be extradited to face kidnap charges.
Eileen Clark, 53, left New Mexico with Chandler, now 23, Hayden, 20, and Rebekah, 17, after her marriage broke down.
The first the family knew about her being sought in America was when she was named as “wanted for kidnapping” on an FBI website.

Her children, all students, want to stay here and called US police to say they were safe and happy. But they were then labelled “endangered adults”.

Ms Clark was arrested at her Oxford home last July on charges of ­international parental kidnapping.

District Judge Howard Riddle said at City of Westminster magistrates court: “There is a small chance she is a classic fugitive.”

Ms Clark said: “I am fine, its par for the course.”

[KarlHindle]

Now am I going to hear Carlos say the British courts got it right

I think that's an excellent decision now we'll have to see what the US authorities do with the case.

Good result.

[lovellboys]

Now am I going to hear Carlos say the British courts got it right

I think that's an excellent decision now we'll have to see what the US authorities do with the case.

Good result.

The children deserve to hear both sides, and so far they have heard only one.  Regardless of the amount of time that has passed, she needs to answer for her actions.

[forthelost]

Both of the sons have reuinted with dad, by the way. Daughter is still refusing.

[cm]

Dr. Phil aired this story. Both sons visit the father in the US. The daughter was a baby when taken and does not have any memories of her father.

http://drphil.com/slideshows/slideshow/6130/?id=6130&showID=1570

[SageDad]

Dr. Phil aired this story. Both sons visit the father in the US. The daughter was a baby when taken and does not have any memories of her father.

http://drphil.com/slideshows/slideshow/6130/?id=6130&showID=1570

Watched the video preview there.  Mom said, "the US can pretty much just make up a charge and if the papers are correct the UK will have to just snap to and send you off."  Uhhh.. yeah.  The US just went and made up the charge of parental kidnapping of 3 children out of nowhere I guess.  The mother also says she's been in contact with the US authorities for over a decade before they decided to inform her there were charges.  This I actually believe.  It's been documented that the US Embassy knew that Chere Tomayko was living in Costa Rica with her abducted daughter and had a federal warrant for parental kidnapping for 5 years and didn't inform the FBI or the father.  Some have speculated they were waiting for the children to turn 18... 

[lovellboys]

Dr. Phil aired this story. Both sons visit the father in the US. The daughter was a baby when taken and does not have any memories of her father.

http://drphil.com/slideshows/slideshow/6130/?id=6130&showID=1570

 Some have speculated they were waiting for the children to turn 18... 

That I can totally believe......just wait long enough and it's no longer a 'problem'.