mysteriew
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Mexico's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that suspects facing life in prison can be extradited, overturning a 4-year-old ban that had prevented many of the country's most notorious criminals from being sent to the United States.
A 1978 treaty with the United States allows Mexico to deny extradition if a person faces the death penalty _ a restriction that still stands under Tuesday's ruling. But the ruling overturns a 2001 the Supreme Court decision that blocked extradition of suspects facing life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Capital punishment has been banned by Mexico's constitution since June and was only rarely applied for decades before that. Life sentences are also rare.
The high court took up the issue after the government of the northern state of Chihuahua modified its penal code to include life sentences in convictions involving homicide and kidnapping.
Tuesday's ruling also declared Chihuahua's state law constitutional, setting a precedent that could allow for more life sentences.
Judges ruled 6-5 to throw out the life without parole restriction, but their ruling will not ease extradition restrictions for suspects who could face the death penalty, a court spokesman said.
He said the ruling will apply to all suspects captured in Mexico _ including U.S. citizens who commit crimes, then flee south of the border.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/30/ap/world/mainD8E6GN2O0.shtml
A 1978 treaty with the United States allows Mexico to deny extradition if a person faces the death penalty _ a restriction that still stands under Tuesday's ruling. But the ruling overturns a 2001 the Supreme Court decision that blocked extradition of suspects facing life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Capital punishment has been banned by Mexico's constitution since June and was only rarely applied for decades before that. Life sentences are also rare.
The high court took up the issue after the government of the northern state of Chihuahua modified its penal code to include life sentences in convictions involving homicide and kidnapping.
Tuesday's ruling also declared Chihuahua's state law constitutional, setting a precedent that could allow for more life sentences.
Judges ruled 6-5 to throw out the life without parole restriction, but their ruling will not ease extradition restrictions for suspects who could face the death penalty, a court spokesman said.
He said the ruling will apply to all suspects captured in Mexico _ including U.S. citizens who commit crimes, then flee south of the border.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/30/ap/world/mainD8E6GN2O0.shtml
