Tonga’s wanted man to appear in Honolulu Court [1]
Friday, November 25, 2016 - 15:48. Updated on Friday, November 25, 2016 - 23:04.
American, Dean Jay Fletcher (54), who is wanted for murder in Tonga, was handed over to three U.S. Marshalls in American Samoa earlier this week and escorted to Honolulu to appear at a Federal Court.
Charges against him in American Samoa were dismissed.
Media reports today said the U.S Department of Justice had sought his provisional arrest, and Fletcher was moved to Honolulu, since there is no Federal Court in American Samoa.
He is expected to appear at a detention hearing on Monday, November 28, in Honolulu. It is understood that Tongan officials have two-months to provide authorities in Honolulu with extradition documents.
It will be up to the U.S Department of State to determine if he'll be extradited, said Assistant U.S Attorney Larry Butrick.
Fletcher was moved to Honolulu after charges of entering the territory and attempting to leave without going through proper clearance was dismissed by a District Court judge, in Pago Pago.
Extradition
In October, Tonga’s Attorney General’s Office had asked the United States for a provisional arrest warrant on Fletcher.
He is accused of murdering his wife Patricia Linne Kearney in an alleged assault on July 6 in Neiafu, Vava'u.