European Arrest Warrant Withdrawn
Sonn Macmillan Walker were instructed to represent Mr K, who was wanted by the German authorities for an offence of possession of cannabis with an intention to supply between 2014- 2017.
Mr K had never been interviewed about the allegation and in 2017 had moved from Germany to the UK for work. He had no knowledge of the investigation until he was arrested pursuant to a European Arrest Warrant (“EAW”). Working with his German lawyer we were able to establish that the case had been pursued on no more evidence than the account of his co-accused who had already been prosecuted by the German authorities.
Following an appeal in Germany against issuing a domestic warrant for Mr K’s arrest, it and the EAW were withdrawn. In his case he had a very weak Article 8 argument and his extradition would almost certainly have been ordered had the case gone to a full hearing. This would have placed him in difficulty coming back into the UK post Brexit. The ordeal had naturally placed him under a considerable amount of stress and caused him to suffer with depression.
This case illustrates the importance of working with practitioners in the country requesting extradition to try and find an alternative solution to extradition. Sonn Macmillan Walker always take this approach and work closely with our international counterparts to try and compromise the EAW or request for extradition. If this can’t be done then we are at least able to place our client’s in capable hands if they have to return to the requesting state.
Our client was delighted with the outcome and can now move on with his life.
Chris Stevens was instructed in the case along with counsel Jessica Peck from 4 Breams Buildings.
