Domenico Rancadore (aka Marc Skinner and "the teacher"[1]) is accused by the Italian government of being a past boss in the Sicilian Mafia, also known as Cosa Nostra. Italian police listed him as one of Italy's "most wanted criminals".[2]
Domenico Rancadore | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1949 (age 74–75)[citation needed] |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Other names | Marc Skinner |
| Spouse | Anne Skinner[1] |
| Allegiance | Cosa Nostra |
Mafia
editThe BBC described him as "head of a crime family",[3] and the Italian press identified him as the one-time boss of the Mafia organisation in the town of Trabia, in the province of Palermo.[4][5] The Italian deputy prime minister, Angelino Alfano, said he is an "important mobster".[2]
In 1993, after Rancadore was found not guilty of Mafia-related crimes by Italian courts,[2] he moved to England.[2] The Italian courts convicted Rancadore in 1999 in absentia of being part of a criminal organisation; he was sentenced to seven years in jail on that charge.[2]
England
editAfter he moved to England in 1993, Rancadore opened a travel agency with his wife.[citation needed] While English authorities were aware that Rancadore was in London they were unable to arrest him because, unlike Italy, in England, Mafia association is not a crime.[6] Italian authorities asked for his extradition to Italy in January 2012, which was denied by the British authorities.[4][5] According to Vittorio Teresi from the prosecution office in Palermo: "The crime of Mafia association is not recognised in the British legal system. The extradition request was not even considered."[5]
Arrest
editRancadore was arrested on 7 August 2013 in Manor Waye, Uxbridge, London.[2] When he saw the police, he left his house via a back door in an attempt to escape[1] but was apprehended by a waiting policeman.[7] After he was captured, a new arrest warrant was made, as Rancadore's lawyers claimed that the previous warrant contained "significant deficiencies".[2] Rancadore was arrested following a European arrest warrant being issued.[8]
Trial
editRancadore was denied bail by a judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court and had an extradition hearing set for 25 November 2013.[2] Gaetano Lima, a past member of the mafia turned informer, described Rancadore as dangerous.[citation needed] The representative for the defense questioned whether Rancadore was a leader in the Mafia.[9]
On February 28, 2014, the extradition hearing was adjourned until Monday March 17,[10] when it was determined at Westminster Magistrates' Court that Rancadore would not be extradited back to Italy. District judge Howard Riddle said a recent decision of the Administrative Court, which binds lower courts in England, led to his decision.[11]
Concerns
editRancadore raised concerns that if he was extradited back to Italy, he would be killed by the Mafia.[8] Rancadore reportedly said that "I’m not going back, they’ll kill me".[8][12]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Mafia Boss Rancadore Remanded In Custody". Sky News. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Wanted mafia boss Domenico Rancadore denied bail". BBC. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ "Wanted mafia boss Domenico Rancadore found in Middlesex". BBC. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ a b (in Italian) Latitante a Londra a spese dello Stato, La Repubblica, January 24, 2012
- ^ a b c Mafia boss on the run since 1994 arrested in London, The Guardian, 8 August 2013
- ^ Pisa, Nick (8 August 2013). "Mafia Boss Domenico Rancadore Held In London". Sky News. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ Collins, David; Evans, Natalie (9 August 2013). "Domenico Rancadore: Fugitive Mafia boss caught hiding in suburbia was 'leader of murderous gang in Sicily'". The Mirror. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
- ^ a b c Collins, David (22 August 2013). "Domenico Rancadore: Mafia boss hiding in suburbia 'fears he will be killed if he's sent back to Italy'". The Mirror. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
- ^ "Mafia Boss Rancadore Fears He Will Be Killed". Sky News. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
- ^ "Mafia boss's UK extradition hearing adjourned | The News Daily - 140142". www.the-news-daily.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-17.
- ^ BBC News, 'Domenico Rancadore: Mafia boss wins extradition battle' 17 March 2014 www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26612261
- ^ Duffin, Claire (22 August 2013). "Mafia boss Domenico Rancadore fears he will be killed if sent back to Italy". The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 August 2013.