Doreen Alexander-Durity, 46, the widow of murdered US war veteran Balram "Balo" Maharaj, yesterday was ordered to be extradited to the United States to face three charges stemming from his murder. She stood silently, with her hands at her sides, as Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayres-Caesar signed the extradition warrant .
Alexander-Durity's lawyer, Daniel Khan, said he would challenge the decision through a habeas corpus writ, which, he said, would be filed within days. Alexander-Durity is wanted in Washington for conspiring with others to engage in hostage-taking which resulted in the death of Maharaj.
She also faces charges of conspiring with others to take as hostages Maharaj and her son, Dinesh Maharaj, as well as aiding and abetting hostage-taking. Maharaj, 62, of Chandy Lane, El Socorro, San Juan, was kidnapped while liming at the Samaan Tree Bar, Aranguez, on April 6, 2005.
A $3 million ransom was demanded for his safe release but it was not paid. His mutilated body was found buried in two containers at Gran Curacaye, Santa Cruz, on January 8, 2006. While making submissions in the extradition matter yesterday, Khan claimed the evidence against Alexander-Durity was based on an accomplice's testimony, which was manifestly unreliable.
Seven T&T nationals-former soldier Corporal Ricardo de Four, 39; Zion Clarke, 33; Kevon Demerieux, 29; Wayne Pierre, 42; Anderson Straker, 37; Christopher Sealey, 39 and Kevin Nixon, 33-were held by local authorities in connection with Maharaj's death and later extradited.
They were found guilty of the offences on July 31, 2009 by a jury sitting before Judge John Bates in Washington. On June 10, last year, Bates sentenced them to life in prison without the possibility of parole. They are serving their sentences in US prisons. Alexander-Durity also was represented by attorney Celeste St Louis, while Larry Lalla and Sunita Harrikisson appeared on behalf of the State.
