what are the conditions for repatriating the alleged murderer to France?

Three weeks after the murder of Philippine, a 19-year-old student at Paris-Dauphine University, found buried in the Bois de Boulogne, France filed a request with Swiss authorities on Wednesday for the extradition of Taha O., the alleged murderer . “France will, of course, insist that this person be tried in France,” said Justice Minister Didier Migaud. The request “was made by France on time. Now the procedure must follow its course.”

Taha O., a 22-year-old Moroccan, is the main suspect. He was arrested in Switzerland on September 24. “He is today detained in Switzerland, so there is a guarantee regarding his detention,” assured Didier Migaud. His extradition is slow, but it has a strong chance of succeeding, because all the conditions are met to repatriate him to France.

The suspect faces life imprisonment

First, on the judicial side. Offenses must be reprehensible in both France and Switzerland. Offenses which carry at least four months in prison, which is the case here for rape and murder. But that’s not all, as Maître Philippe Fontana, lawyer at the Paris bar, explains: “The incrimination must not be based on a political motive. The person must not be a Swiss national” .

These conditions met, the extradition deadlines can vary, specifies Mr. Fontana: “Either there is a classic procedure and given the media impact of the case, it will only take a few weeks. Or, there is a procedure of simplified extradition and there, it’s a matter of months, only one month. Finally, if the person involved contests his extradition, it will take a few months.

Once handed over to the French police officers, there is little doubt about the placement in pre-trial detention of Taha O.. For the rape and murder of Philippine, the suspect faces life imprisonment.