Scots fugitive faces extradition for 'murder'

Published on Tuesday 7 September 2010 14:03

A SCOTTISH man who has been on the run for seven years has been arrested after jumping out of a window and will now be extradited to Spain on murder charges.

John Black, 40, broke both legs jumping from a second-floor window in Glasgow on 13 August.

It was the second time in two months that he had been arrested by Strathclyde Police.

Officers had initially been called to a flat in Parkhead, Glasgow, following a drugs tip-off. They arrested one woman on suspicion of drugs offences.

Black, from Glasgow, was not charged in relation to the drugs but was ordered to appear in court in connection to the murder in Spain.

He refused to be extradited and was bailed, only to disappear again.

This time, however, he did not stay on the run as long. Police caught up with him four days later and arrested him after he suffered serious injuries jumping from the window.

Black has agreed to be extradited but will remain in the UK for treatment before flying out on 2 November. He faces charges over the death of a Romanian man, who was stabbed outside Shannons Bar in the holiday town of Torretta, in Alicante.

Black was charged with his murder and appeared in court before paying more than 13,000 to be released on bail.

However, he then disappeared, allegedly returning to Scotland on a fake passport bought for 7,500 on the black market. He remained hidden for seven years as the case was passed to Interpol, which alerted the Scottish authorities.

Black's parents Andrea and Peter are believed to have flown back to Scotland to offer him their support.

A Crown Office spokesman said: "John Black was arrested on a European arrest warrant on 8 July and appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 9 July.

"He refused to consent to extradition and an extradition hearing was set for 9 August. Bail was opposed by the Crown but was granted by the court.

"He failed to appear at the hearing on 9 August and a warrant was granted for his arrest. He was arrested on this warrant. When John Black came back before the court, he consented to extradition. He will be extradited to Spain in due course."

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police confirmed: "A 40-year-old man was arrested in connection with a European arrest warrant." An Interpol spokesman said: "If or when police in any of Interpol's 188 member countries share information with the General Secretariat in Lyon in relation to investigations and fugitives, this information remains under the ownership of that member country.

"Interpol does not therefore comment on specific cases except in special circumstances and with approval of the member country concerned."

Spokeswoman for the investigation Inspector Clara Blanco, of the National Police in Alicante, was not available for comment last night.