Scots couple win right to challenge extradition ruling

A COUPLE accused of exporting chemicals to illegal drug labs producing highly addictive crystal meth have been granted leave to take their human rights challenge against extradition to the United States to the Supreme Court.

Mother-of-six Kerry Anne Howes, 33, and her husband Brian, 47, from Bo'ness, West Lothian, lost a bid to prevent them being sent to Arizona to face trial at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh last month. But the couple returned to the same court yesterday to successfully apply for leave to take their case to the London court.

Defence counsel Chris Shead, for Mrs Howes, told Lord Mackay, sitting with Lord Bonomy and Lord Osborne, that an English case involving parents facing extradition has already been referred to the court.

Lord Mackay said the judges would allow leave to appeal on issues which had arisen during the Scottish proceedings.