US death crash suspect gets more time to fight

Lawyers acting for a fugitive wanted in the US in connection with the deaths of three students were today granted more time to prepare an appeal against extradition.

American Frederick Russell was ordered by the High Court in May to return to the States, where he is due to face several charges over a fatal road crash in Washington State.

The 27-year-old, who was on the run from US authorities for more than four years, is fighting the decision and his lawyers are preparing an appeal case to be heard before the Supreme Court later this year.

Chief Justice John L Murray today granted Russell’s lawyers a further two weeks to lodge books of appeal with the court.

Five weeks was allowed for written submissions on the case, which state solicitors will then be given an opportunity to reply to. The case is due before the Supreme Court again on September 14.

Russell was not in court for today’s hearing. He has been remanded at Cloverhill Prison in Dublin.

It is alleged he was driving an SUV at high speed when it ploughed into two other cars on a highway near the Idaho border in June 2001.

Three college students returning to the nearby state university after a trip to the cinema were killed and three others were left with permanent injuries.

It emerged during the extradition hearing that Russell had been drinking and using cannabis in the hours before the crash.

He went on the run after being charged on three counts of vehicular homicide, similar to the offence of causing death by dangerous driving.

If extradited and found guilty he faces serving life in jail.

He had been using an alias while living and working in Ireland for the last number of years.