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Pair appeal against extradition

Two Tyneside holidaymakers ordered to be extradited to Crete following a bottle attack are to fight the move.

Michael Tonge, 28, and Lee Yarrow, 30, are facing charges in connection with an attack seven years ago in Malia in which a man was slashed in the neck.

Mr Tongue faces an attempted murder charge and Mr Yarrow is accused of aiding and abetting the attempt.

On Monday Westminster Magistrates' Court ordered they be extradited within 10 days, but they appealed against it.

The extradition move has been criticised the organisation Fair Trials Abroad (FTA).

Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Tongue said: "This is absolutely terrible - we are absolutely distraught. We never thought it would come to this - it came completely out of the blue."

The accused told the court on Monday they were acting in self-defence after being attacked by a knife-wielding gang.

In 1999 the then foreign secretary Robin Cook, the British Consul and Amnesty International took up the case after Mr Tonge, spent four months in custody and complained of inhumane treatment by police and prison officers.

Witness 'problems'

He claimed he had been beaten by guards, kept in a rat-infested cell, saw fellow prisoners commit suicide, attack each other with knives and openly deal heroin.

But District Judge Nicholas Evans said there was no reason to suggest Greek police or authorities would wish to target the two defendants.

FTA Chief Executive, Catherine Wolthuizen, criticised the extradition move.

She said: "It is extremely difficult to see how Michael and Lee can have a fair trial, given the length of time since the charges were originally laid - finding witnesses will be very difficult."

Original text is here

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