A Channel migrant accused of drugging, raping and strangling to demise a 13-year-old lady weeks earlier than arriving within the UK on a small boat has right now been ordered again to Austria to face trial.
Afghan-born Rasuili Zubaidullah, 23, is accused of drugging, raping and suffocating teenager Leonie Walner in Vienna in June final 12 months.
The 13-year-old’s physique was discovered rolled up in a carpet within the capital on June 26.
Weeks after {the teenager} was discovered lifeless, Zubaidullah boarded a boatload of refugees and claimed asylum in Britain, allegedly below a pretend title.
Austrian authorities later tipped off British police that he was a suspect in Leonie’s homicide and he was arrested by a UK extradition unit.
Legal professionals have since tried to argue the Channel migrant shouldn’t be extradited to Austria as a result of he’s a suspect and has not been formally charged.
However a choose right now rejected Zubaidullah’s bid and ordered his extradition to Austria inside 17 days.
Zubaidullah can be allowed to attraction the ruling, however will stay in custody throughout any attraction.
Throughout a listening to at Westminster Magistates’ Court docket right now, District Decide Michael Snow instructed him: ‘I’m afraid I’m going to reject your challenges and, in consequence, you have to return to Austria to face trial in respect of those allegations.’
Leonie Walner’s physique was discovered rolled up in a carpet within the Austrian capital of Vienna final June
Police imagine Leonie was taken to a flat alongside three folks earlier than she was killed.
It’s believed Zubaidullah met Leonie in a nightlife district alongside the Danube Canal a day earlier.
Weeks after she was discovered lifeless, Zubaidullah boarded a boatload of refugees and claimed asylum in Britain.
He’s believed to have supplied authorities in Kent with a pretend title on 18 July final 12 months after efficiently crossing the Channel.
He was residing at a taxpayer-funded hostel in Whitechapel, east London, for 2 weeks earlier than Austrian police tipped off British authorities, and he was arrested by officers from the Nationwide Extradition Unit on 29 July final 12 months.
It was initially believed Zubaidullah had made his strategy to Italy earlier than it grew to become clear he had sneaked into the UK.
Showing in custody from Wandsworth jail in south London for a five-minute listening to at Westminster Magistrates Court docket, he sat stone-faced in gray jail uniform as he was instructed his utility to remain within the UK was being refused.
He spoke solely to substantiate he understood proceedings, which had been translated to him by a Farsi interpreter.
Jonathan Swain, prosecuting, instructed an earlier listening to: ‘This case pertains to a warrant issued by Austrian authorities on 29 July this 12 months. This was licensed by the Nationwide Crime Company a day later.
‘Zubaidullah is suspected of committing two offences on 25 and 26 June final 12 months, that are described as a wilful collaboration with three named folks.
‘He coerced the alleged sufferer by pressure and bought her to interact in and acquiesce to sexual activity by pressure.
‘He gave her seven ecstasy capsules earlier than having vaginal intercourse together with her.
‘It’s mentioned the sufferer was grabbed and choked till she was unable to breathe and suffocated, and subsequently she finally died.
‘The second cost pertains to the actual fact he had intercourse together with her when she was below 14 years previous.’
Rasuili Zubaidullah is accused of the drugging, rape and suffocation of 13-year-old schoolgirl Leonie Walner
His lawyer Ben Keith objected to extradition below Part 12A of the Extradition Act 2003, claiming the Austrian authorities had not but determined to cost Zubiadullah.
He mentioned: ‘The problem is whether or not this case is in reality going to proceed to prosecution and whether or not this defendant goes to be prosecuted.
‘The courtroom may request additional info, or it may discharge this case.
‘We are saying the actual fact Austrian authorities have tried to interview this defendant is proof that the explanation they haven’t progressed this far isn’t as a result of the defendant isn’t within the nation, however as a result of he’s nonetheless on the investigation stage.
‘There’s sufficient info to indicate no determination has been made to cost him.’
Nevertheless District Decide Snow rejected the lawyer’s objection and ordered Zubiadullah be extradited.
He has seven days to attraction the ruling, and if he doesn’t, he can be despatched again to Austria inside 17 days. He was remanded into custody within the meantime.
The case has raised issues that checks on Afghan refugees coming into the nation aren’t strict sufficient, particularly at a time when border crossings have reached report highs.