BSQ Partner and international criminal law expert Roger Sahota is to speak at the Defence Extradition Lawyers conference on the 29th September 2023. Roger will be talking about two ongoing cases BSQ are conducting before the European Court of Human Rights. Leave has been granted in both cases which are currently before a Section of the Court awaiting a judgment.

Both cases concern the issue of life without parole prisoners in the United States. In both cases, the United States is seeking the extradition of suspects to stand trial for serious offences where, if convicted, they could receive a life without parole sentence. Life sentences without the possibility of parole – otherwise known as “irreducible” sentences – are deemed to be in violation of Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which prohibits inhuman and degrading treatment.

In November 2022 Roger appeared before the Grand Chamber of the European Courts of Human Right in the first British case since Brexit of Sanchez-Sanchez v. the United Kingdom ([GC], no. 22854/20 

Sanchez Sanchez is now the leading case on the issue of Article 3 compliance and life without parole sentencing in the United States.

You can read more about our specialist extradition practice here.

If you require advice and assistance in relation to an extradition case please contact our London offices.