On 22 January, Edgar Tamayo was executed by Texas. Edgar was arrested for the 1994 murder of Guy Gaddis, a Houston police officer, but not promptly advised of his right to consular help, in violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. In 2004, the International Court of Justice directed the U.S. to review the convictions of Tamayo and 50 other Mexican citizens who had been sentenced to death without being notified of their rights under the Vienna Convention. In March 2008, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Medellín v. Texas that the decision of the International Court of Justice was not a binding domestic law and therefore could not be used to overcome state procedural default rules that barred further post-conviction challenges.

Ian Brownhill, writing in the Amicus ALJ newsletter sets out the legal basis of the decision of the International Court of Justice and warns that there could be complications for Americans detained abroad enforcing their consular rights. His article can be found by clicking here.

On 30 January, Amanda Knox was found guilty again of the murder of Meredith Kercher.
Ian, who has worked in both in the United States and the UK, will be a guest on BBC West Midlands on Saturday Morning discussing the implications of the Italian Court’s decision and the likelihood of an extradition from the United States to Italy.

Ian’s interview can be heard in the Midlands on 1 February 2014 and online via iPlayer.

On 31 January, the High Court announced their decision that Shrien Dewani, who is accused of organising the murder of his wife Anni in South Africa, can be extradited to South Africa.
Ian has provided expert advice to the BBC Points West news team throughout the news as it has broken and provided his opinion on what will happen now judgment has been handed down in the case, including the potential of a challenge to the Supreme Court.

Ian’s interview with BBC Points West can be viewed at 1830 on 31 January 2014 on BBC 1 in the Bristol area and online and via iPlayer. 

Please click here to view Ian Brownhill‘s profile.