Marcus Bebb-Jones One Step Closer to Extradition

by Natalie Parker on April 23, 2010

The U.K. Poker champ accused of the 1997 murder of his wife, Sabrina, is inches closer to being escorted back to the United States, where the crime took place. Despite his barrister’s desperate efforts to convince the judge in the extradition hearing that facing a life sentence for murder was “inhuman” and “grossly disproportionate,” the judge has ruled that the possible sentence does not violate the human rights of the accused.

Those who have been following this bizarre case will remember that Bebb-Jones was arrested at his Kidderminster home in the U.K. months after a warrant for his arrest was issued in the U.S. for first degree murder – 13 years after his wife’s disappearance. In 2004, Sabrina Bebb-Jones’ skull was found by a rancher near Douglas Pass, near Grand Junction, Co., where the couple had owned and operated a hotel.

It is expected that Marcus Bebb-Jones’ barrister, Ben Cooper, will plead with the Secretary of State to grant the one-time poker champ and accused murder the right to stand trial in the United Kingdom, instead of facing a jury in the United States. Even if the request is denied, the defendant will have the option to appeal the decision.

Due to the United Kingdom’s extradition laws, United States officials were forced to reduce the possible maximum sentence Marcus Bebb-Jones could receive to life in prison. Had Bebb-Jones been apprehended in the U.S., he would be facing the death penalty.

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