Former sect members fight on
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Two former members of a religious sect accused of conspiracy to murder in the United States are to launch a last-ditch legal challenge against their extradition later this week. The High Court yesterday rejected an appeal to review the Government's decision to hand them to the American courts to stand trial.
Sally Croft, 44, an accountant, and Susan Hagan, 47, an aromatherapist, former followers of the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, were refused permission to seek a judicial review of the Home Secretary's decision last month to extradite them. Mr Justice Morison rejected their lawyer's request that they be allowed to seek court orders blocking their removal until after a debate in the House of Lords, where a cross-party group of peers has expressed strong reservations about the case.
But the women, who left the sect in 1985, plan to appeal to the divisional court, where three judges will decide whether they have a case to argue before a full hearing. The solicitor acting for the women, Andrew McCooey, acknowledged that the next hearing, ordered urgently by Mr Justice Morison, may be the last chance in their three- and-a-half-year legal fight. 'We are at the end of the rope,' he said.
Mrs Hagan, of Bedmond, Hertfordshire, and Ms Croft, of Totnes, Devon, are accused of plotting to kill an Oregon state attorney, Charles Turner, in 1985 when they were members of the Bhagwan's sect. The attorney was not harmed but the women, who deny the allegations, say they face 'trial by media' and could receive 20-year prison sentences.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments