Canadian Supreme Court Rules Suspects Can Be Extradited to US Only With Assurance

On February 1, 2001, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled unanimously by a 9-0 vote that two Canadians accused of a gruesome triple murder in Bellevue, Washington can only be extradited to the U.S. with a guarantee they will not receive the death penalty. Burns and Rafay are each charged on three counts of aggravated first degree murder in the State of Washington. If found guilty, they will face either the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Both are Canadian citizens who were 18 years old when the father, mother and sister of Rafay were found bludgeoned to death in their home in Bellevue, Washington, in July 1994. Both denied involvement in the murders. After they returned to Canada and as a result of investigative work by undercover RCMP officers, they were eventually arrested. The Attorney General of British Columbia decided against a prosecution in that province. U.S. authorities started extradition proceedings…[more]