thedrifter
12-29-06, 03:17 PM
December 29, 2006
U.S. takes custody of Marine convicted of rape
The Associated Press
MANILA, Philippines — A Marine convicted of raping a Filipino woman was whisked away from a Manila jail to the U.S. Embassy on Friday, a spokesman said, almost a month after the U.S. and Philippine governments urged a local court to transfer him to American custody during his appeal.
Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, 21, had been in a Manila jail since he was convicted and sentenced to 40 years Dec. 4.
His lawyers, the U.S. Embassy and the Philippine departments of justice and foreign affairs have agreed that his detention violates the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement, which governs the conduct of U.S. troops in the Philippines. A provision in it states that any accused U.S. serviceman shall remain in U.S. custody until all judicial proceedings are exhausted.
“The government of the Philippines made a decision to transfer Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith back to U.S. custody, consistent with the terms of the VFA,” embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop said.
Ellie
U.S. takes custody of Marine convicted of rape
The Associated Press
MANILA, Philippines — A Marine convicted of raping a Filipino woman was whisked away from a Manila jail to the U.S. Embassy on Friday, a spokesman said, almost a month after the U.S. and Philippine governments urged a local court to transfer him to American custody during his appeal.
Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, 21, had been in a Manila jail since he was convicted and sentenced to 40 years Dec. 4.
His lawyers, the U.S. Embassy and the Philippine departments of justice and foreign affairs have agreed that his detention violates the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement, which governs the conduct of U.S. troops in the Philippines. A provision in it states that any accused U.S. serviceman shall remain in U.S. custody until all judicial proceedings are exhausted.
“The government of the Philippines made a decision to transfer Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith back to U.S. custody, consistent with the terms of the VFA,” embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop said.
Ellie