Judge gets letters from American's loved ones

A High Court judge said today that he had received letters from the mother and fiancée of an American man who is challenging his extradition to the US to face charges relating to the death of three students in a traffic accident.

Frederick David Russell (aged 26), who was arrested in Dublin last November, has claimed he received death threats in the United States after the crash on June 4, 2001.

Mr Justice Michael Peart said in the High Court today that he had received two letters, which he had not read, following his return from Cork, where he has been on circuit for the past two weeks.

The judge said he wanted to give the letters to Mr Russell's lawyers and said that he had not read either of them, although the first line of each of them identified the writer.

The judge said it was "entirely inappropriate" that any person connected with Mr Russell should communicate directly with the judge.

Mr Russell is alleged to have absconded after he was charged in Washington State on three counts each of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. He also faces charges arising out of the alleged cashing of a cheque on his father's account.

At the time of his arrest in Dublin, Mr Russell had been living under the alias 'David Carroll' with his girlfriend in Celbridge. He was working as a security guard at a women's clothing store in the city centre.

The extradition proceedings arise from a road accident on June 4, 2001, near Mr Russell's home town of Pullman, Washington, when his vehicle allegedly ploughed into a car carrying students from the nearby Washington State University.

The students, all in their early 20s, had been returning to campus after seeing a movie. Three were killed while three more were seriously injured. Mr Russell, who suffered only minor injuries, was later charged in connection with the incident and released on bail.

Mr Justice Peart remanded Russell in continuing custody until next Monday, when further submissions are expected to be made on the extradition request.