Extradition from British Virgin Islands—Renelle Lettsome

A resident of the US Virgin Islands has been arrested in the nearby British Virgin Islands.^[1] Renelle Lettsome was arrested on charges that include murder, arson, and weapons violations that relate to the attack on David Geiger and Mr. Geiger’s 14 year-old son.^[2] Mr. Lettsome is in British custody pending a hearing on extradition back to the US Virgin Islands.^[3]

The extradition treaty of 1972 between the United States and the United Kingdom covers all US territories and the British Virgin Islands.^[4] The new extradition treaty between the US and the UK, as we have mentioned before, has not yet come into effect, but the British Extradition Act of 2003 is that nation’s implementing legislation for that treaty. Under section 177 of that legislation, extradition from the British Virgin Islands will be covered by the Extradition Act of 2003. Murder, arson, and weapons violations are all extraditable offense, and all the US must provide is information about the commission of the crime.

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[1] Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands Police Arrest Suspect in Attack on Father and Son, NY Newsday, Nov. 29, 2005, available here.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] See Dept. of State, Treaties in Force 2005 331, Jan. 1, 2005, available here. (PDF)