The extradition hearing for accused synagogue bomber Hassan Diab appears set for early June after another round of legal wrangling between federal prosecutors and Diab’s lawyers on Monday.
Prosecutor Claude LeFrançois had been granted a delay in December by Ontario Superior Court Justice Robert Maranger to give the French government time to review Maranger’s decision to allow Diab’s defence team to call handwriting and intelligence experts expected to challenge evidence the French are using in requesting Diab’s extradition to France.
LeFrançois told the court Monday he was unsure whether the French government would be submitting more evidence in response.
The French government claims Diab was involved in the 1980 bombing of a Paris synagogue that killed four and injured 40. A tentative deadline for fresh evidence was set for March 29.
Diab’s defence team noted the French government has had years to build its case.
Donald Bayne and Yves Joubainville also suggested it was unfair that Diab bear the full cost of his electronic GPS monitoring, estimated at $2,500 a month, while he waits. RCMP made monitoring a condition of Diab’s release from custody until the extradition proceeding, Bayne said. The extradition hearing dates are to be fixed Friday.