EXTRADITION REFUSED

Southland Times, Issue 22833, 6 March 1936, Page 7

EXTRADITION REFUSED

SEQUEL TO ST. ALBANS MURDER. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Paris, March 4. The Court refused to extradite Roger Vernon and Susan Bertrond. Vernon later told the examining Magistrate that he shot Max Kassel in self-defence. On February 14 the British Government made a formal request for the extradition of Roger Vernon, alias Lacroix, on a charge of murdering Max Kassel, known as Emil Allard, whose body was found near St. Albans on January 24, and of Susan Bertrond on a charge of being an accessory after the crime. The British Note said that if, on account of their French nationality and the French law, the French Government was unable to accede to this request, the British Government would request that all necessary steps be taken by the French Government to ensure that justice was done. Copies of the warrants and depositions were enclosed with the Note, and the British Government would give all assistance to see the ends of justice served. It is understood that a French law of 1927, while making it impossible to extradite French citizens, enables the French courts to deal with crimes committed by them abroad.