Karen Bradley welcomed the news today that Italian authorities have dropped their demand for Edmond Arapi to be extradited under a European Arrest Warrant. Mr Arapi was convicted in his absence of a murder in Genoa in 2004 when he was working in Leek and had not left the UK between 2000 and 2006.
Karen said:
"I'm delighted to see that Mr Arapi's evidence was accepted and the Italian authorities have accepted it was a case of mistaken identity. Congratulations to Edmond and his family. And also to Fair Trials International who have worked hard on his behalf and supported his case vigorously."
Karen raised Mr Arapi's case with David Cameron in the first Prime Minister's Question Time of the new Parliament as Mr Arapi was facing imminent extradition. Mr Cameron said he would ask the Home Secretary to investigate. Karen said:
"It's great news today but I hope that the Home Secretary will continue to accelerate the review of extradition cases under the European Arrest Warrant to ensure that the fast track system is just."