Scottish man wanted over 1999 murder in the US loses Britain's longest-running extradition battle

Joshua Hayes was shot in the head during a 1999 robbery in Jacksonville, Florida
Phillip Harkins was indicted and his extradition was requested by US in 2003
The now-38-year-old was released on bail but jailed over a fatal road crash
His final extradition appeal was turned down by the European Court of Justice

A Scottish man wanted over a fatal shooting in 1999 has lost his final appeal in Britain's longest-running extradition battle.

Phillip Harkins, 38, has been fighting against his transfer to the US to face the charge since 2003, but The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled against his final attempt to remain in the UK earlier today.

Harkins, originally from Greenock, Inverclyde, was indicted for murder after Joshua Hayes was killed by a gunshot wound to the head during a robbery in Jacksonville, Florida.

He denied any involvement and has contested his extradition since it was requested by US authorities in March 2003.

Harkins, who had been released on bail, returned to Scotland in 2002 but was jailed the following year for killing a woman in a road crash in Greenock.

After losing a number of attempts to block his extradition, Harkins took his case to the European Court of Human Rights where he successfully petitioned for a final hearing.

He had previously argued that if extradited 'he risked the death penalty or a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole'.

His lawyers said that it would be a breach of his human rights to send him back to the US.

The court declared both complaints inadmissible and said its decision was final.

Not a great deal of sympathy for him here:

http://www.scotsman.com/news/us-murder-charge-scot-loses-extradition-legal-battle-1-4499564

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/fresh-pain-family-man-killed-8479421

He skipped bail before his case reached court and fled back to Scotland where he evaded capture.

The 37-year-old was only caught when he crashed a car into a taxi and killed 62-year-old passenger Jean O’Neill in 2003.

and
Harkins was arrested and charged with first degree murder but was freed on bail pending trial.

He absconded and remained on the run in Scotland until he smashed his car into the taxi in Eldon Street, Greenock, in January 2003, killing pensioner Jean.

Harkins was jailed for five years for causing Jean’s death by dangerous driving.


If he hadn't skipped bail, he wouldn't have killed that woman.