HOME	SEPTEMBER 04th, 2004

SEPT 04

After more than two years of judicial review, British Home Secretary David Blunket has issued a warrant for the surrender of murder suspect Fazal Sayed to Grenada.

The Indian-born Sayed who is wanted by Grenadian Police in connection with the killing of his 26 year old wife Gillian Lynn Celestine-Sayed of LaBorie in St George's, could be back on local soil in a matter of weeks.

Reports reaching GRENADA TODAY indicate that the 32 year old man was informed last week by the office of the British Home Secretary that the warrant was signed for his surrender to Grenadian authorities.

The hunt for Sayed began on July 6, 2002, two days after he slashed his wife's throat at his home in Frequente, St. George's.

One of the persons who has been working on the case since the body was discovered is the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Nelson, and he indicated that although the warrant was issued for Sayed's surrender, it can still be challenged in a British high court.

Under the United Kingdom Extradition Act, Sayed has seven days to notify the Home Office of his intention to challenge the decision and to have the order reviewed. Nelson admitted that such a process can be very time consuming and there can be a delay in the process and Sayed's eventual return to Grenada to face murder charges.

However, he said that if the Indian national refuses to challenge the order then immediate steps will be taken by Grenada to have him return to the island to face criminal prosecution.

Gillian's body was found on July 6, 2002 at the Bailes Bacolet Bay in St. David's by members of the Special Services Unit (SSU) of the Royal Grenada Police Force while on a search of the area for escaped prisoners, Starlin Bruno and Shurlan Willison.

Shortly after the body was discovered, Sayed's nephew told local police that the suspect had fled the country for London en-route to India. Local police alerted their counterparts in London and Sayed was intercepted and taken into custody on a provisional warrant while in transit to his homeland.

Grenada then made a formal extradition request to the British Home Secretary for the return of the fugitive from justice. On August 12, 2002, a district Judge in London committed the murder suspect to prison to await the Home Secretary's decision on the issue of the surrender order.

There are reports that in October of that same year, Sayed's lawyers as a result of the Judge's decision made representation to the Home Secretary indicating that he should not be surrendered to Grenada since the death penalty was still an issue in that country.

They also cited the inhumane conditions which exist at the Richmond Hill Prison and the possibility that he will not be allowed legal aid as part of their case to block the extradition. The British Home office has now concluded that Grenada has presented a fit and proper case for Sayed's return and as such he should be surrendered to the authorities in St. George's.