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England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court) Decisions |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court) Decisions >> Donald v Republic of South Africa [2017] EWHC 2580 (Admin) (14 July 2017) URL: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2017/2580.html Cite as: [2017] EWHC 2580 (Admin) |
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QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION
DIVISIONAL COURT
Strand London WC2A 2LL |
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B e f o r e :
MRS JUSTICE MCGOWAN DBE
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DONALD | Appellant | |
v | ||
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA | Respondent |
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Mr D Sternberg (instructed by CPS Extradition Unit) appeared on behalf of the Respondent
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Crown Copyright ©
LORD JUSTICE SIMON:
Introduction
In the course of her judgment, the Deputy Senior District Judge, ('the DSDJ') rejected a number of arguments advanced by the appellant that the extradition was barred by the passage of time (section 79(1)(c) and 82 of the Act) and due to the condition of his health (section 91).
In addition, she dealt with an argument under section 87 of the Act in relation to the appellant's rights under Article 3 of the ECHR, the right not to be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
The evidence in argument focused on the conditions in which he would be held in prison on remand and, if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment, in custody in the RSA.
She added this:
68. South Africa has given assurances in the very recent past and there has never been any question that they will not abide with them.
The witnesses making the assurances are in a position of authority in relation to the prison and the psychiatric hospital and this is confirmed by the Independent Judicial Inspectorate for the South African Department of Correctional Services.
I am satisfied that the South African prison authorities will be able to cope to with the RP and his wheelchair. They have also given assurances in relation to his diabetes medication. I have no doubt that South Africa will hold to the assurances given as, they have done, in other cases in the past.
69. The evidence is clear that the prisons in Gauteng are overcrowded but I accept that Mr Donald will be held in a single cell in the conditions that have been outlined in the evidence. The overcrowding will not affect him as the prisoners in single cells are kept apart from the others.
Law
(1) The terms of the assurances must be such that, if they are fulfilled, the person returned will not be subjected to a treatment contrary to Article 3.(2) The assurances must be given in good faith.
(3) There must be a signed or objective basis for believing that the assurances will be fulfilled.
(4) Fulfilment of the assurances must be capable of being verified. See, for example, the judgment of the Divisional Court in The Court in Mures & Anor v. Zagrean [2016] EWHC 2786 (Admin) [52], and more recently, Kirchanov & Ors v. District Prosecutor's Office, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria & Ors [2017] EWHC 827 (Admin) [24].
The issue on the appeal and the procedural issues that arise
3. It is normally incumbent on litigants in first instance courts or tribunals in which evidence is adduced to advance their whole case at first instance and to adduce all the evidence on which they want or need to rely. In most cases, the purpose and function of an appeal is to review the decision of the lower court upon the evidence which was adduced before the lower court.
An appeal court is not generally there to enable a litigant who has lost in the lower court to advance their case upon new and enlarged evidence which they failed to adduce in the lower court.
Should normally be conducted and adjudicated on once only. It is generally neither fair nor just that the expense and worry of litigation should be prolonged into an appeal because a party failed to adduce all the evidence they needed at first instance.
32. In our judgment, evidence which was 'not available at the extradition hearing' means evidence which either did not exist at the time of the extradition hearing or which was not at the disposal of the party wishing to adduce it and which he could not with reasonable diligence have obtained. If it was at the party's disposal or could have been so obtained, it was available.
reiterated that the test is general:
35. Even for defendants, the court will not readily admit fresh evidence which they should have adduced before the District Judge and which is tendered to try to repair holes which should have been plugged before the District Judge simply because it has a Human Rights label attached to it.
The threshold remains high. The court must still be satisfied that the evidence would have resulted in the judge deciding the relevant question differently so that he would not have ordered the defendant's discharge. In short, the fresh evidence must be decisive.
There will be no further extensions. This is a final order. The appeal will be determined on such admissible evidence as is available in accordance with this order.
The [DSDJ] erred in relying on the Article 3 assurances provided by [the RSA] that it would guarantee his Article 3 rights.
26. In addition to the Perfected Grounds there was a yet further application dated 15 February 2016 to extend time for 14 days in which to obtain further evidence of breaches of assurances. The application did not refer to Collins J's order precluding the admission of such evidence.
The evidence in relation to Frazer Heesom
4. All three appellants are white men. That may have some relevance because the District Judge stated that conditions in South African prisons are 'pretty bleak', 'perhaps particularly for white men because white inmates are very much in the minority'.
7.(1) The law relating to Article 3 and extradition.
Where Article 3 is raised as an objection to extradition, the test for the court is whether:
…..substantial grounds have been shown for believing that the person concerned if extradited faces a real risk of being subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the requesting country. [Soering v United Kingdom App No 14038/99 paragraph 91.]
There have been qualifications to this approach. In Wellington [2009] 1 AC 335 it was held that punishment which would amount to inhuman and degrading treatment if meted out here might not be so regarded in a case where the choice is between extradition or allowing a fugitive offender to evade justice (see per Lord Hoffman at paragraphs 22 to 24; see also Harkins and Edwards v United Kingdom App Nos 9146/07 and 32650/07 paragraphs 129 to 131).
17. Mr Heesom gave evidence before me. He speaks very quickly and with passion. He is righteously indignant about his situation. He provides a fluent account and has an answer for everything [...] I am afraid I just did not believe a word of what he told me.
I am, as stated, an enemy combatant. I do not have to comply with any laws of either country and I am biding my time to react and to inflict harm with extreme prejudice [...]. We are adversaries and your lack of participative recourse is fuelling my cause and recruiting my forces.
Conclusion
No challenge can, or is, made in relation to the DSDJ's assessment of these assurances. On the contrary, the court has received further evidence in Mr Raga's second affidavit that JICS will ensure that any undertaking regarding his incarceration will be adhered to.
MRS JUSTICE MCGOWAN: I agree.