Babar Ahmad/Timeline
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Babar Ahmad Time-line
- 03-May-2011 : Trial begins, of four Metropolitan police officers from the Territorial Support Group (TSG), accused of assaulting Babar Ahmad, begins at Southwark Crown Court.
- 22-Sept-2010 : Officers appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates Court. Next appearance at Southwark Crown Court May 2011
- 12-Aug-2010 : CPS announces that 4 Metropolitan police officers will be charged with actual body harm (ABH) for the assault on Babar Ahmad on 2 December 2003. The officers are due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on 22 September 2010.
- 08-Jul-2010 : European Court of Human Rights declares Babar Ahmad's application is partially admissable and awaits further observations from the UK government on Supermax confinement and life without parole sentence. Final decision is expected early 2011.
- 24-Nov-2009 : The Crown Prosecution Service informs Babar Ahmad's lawyers that it is conducting a review into whether any police officers can be prosecuted for abusing him in December 2003.
- 03-Nov-2009 : Following his acquittal in a separate racial assault criminal trial at Kingston Crown Court, PC Mark Jones of 1 Unit 1 Area TSG (based at Paddington Green police station) is named as the principal perpetrator of the attack on Babar Ahmad.
- 26-Mar-2009 : Mayor of London Boris Johnson announces an inquiry into the Babar Ahmad police abuse case with external judicial oversight by retired High Court judge Sir Geoffrey Grigson, to report back to the Metropolitan Police Authority.
- 18-Mar-2009 : In a historic, unprecedented victory, the Metropolitan Police admits full liability for subjecting Babar Ahmad to grave abuse tantamount to torture and offers to pay him £60,000 (@ US$90,000) in damages. The admission, at the High Court in London, receives worldwide press coverage. Babar Ahmad is present in court to hear the admission.
- 16-Mar-2009 : Babar Ahmad's civil case trial against the Metropolitan Police begins at the High Court in London before Mr Justice Holroyde. Babar Ahmad is represented in court by counsel, Miss Phillippa Kaufman. Babar Ahmad appears by video link from HMP Long Lartin.
- 10-Mar-2009 : Metropolitan Police offers Babar Ahmad an out-of-court settlement of £60,000 (@ US $90,000) without admitting liability. Babar Ahmad refuses this offer.
- 18-Feb-2008 : The Rose Inquiry reports back to Parliament stating that nothing illegal happened in the police surveillance of the Sadiq Khan MP-Babar Ahmad prison visits but that the law should be clarified.
- 04-Feb-2008 : Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw MP announces in the House of Commons that there is to be an official inquiry into the bugging of Babar Ahmad's prison visits with Sadiq Khan MP, to be conducted by a retired High Court judge, Sir Christopher Rose.
- 03-Feb-2008 : UK newspaper, The Sunday Times reports that anti-terrorist police had covertly recorded Babar Ahmed's confidential prison visits in 2005 and 2006 with his MP, Sadiq Khan.
- 20-Jan-2008 : Metropolitan Police Service offers Babar Ahmad an out-of-court settlement of £20,000 (@ US $30,000) without admitting liability. Babar Ahmad refuses this offer.
- 04-Oct-2007 : Babar Ahmad transferred from HMP Manchester to HMP Long Lartin Detainee Unit.
- 04-Jul-2007 : Babar Ahmad lodges civil proceedings at the High Court in London against the Metropolitan Police Service claiming damages for assault in December 2003.
- 10-Jun-2007 : In a miraculous intervention at the last minute, the European Court of Human Rights freezes Babar Ahmad extradition until further notice whilst it considers his case.
- 09-Jun-2007 : Babar Ahmad kisses goodbye to his family, awaiting extradition.
- 04-Jun-2007 : House of Lords refuses leave to appeal to it, meaning that Babar Ahmad is to be extradited within 7 days, barring a last-minute reprieve from the European Court of Human Rights.
- 19-Dec-2006 : The High Court in London gave certification for two points of law, that are of public importance, to be taken to the House of Lords. These points of law concerned Military Detention and Extraordinary Rendition.
- 13-Dec-2006 : Babar Ahmad transferred from HMP Belmarsh to HMP Manchester, where he is again placed into Segregation for 48 hours for no reason.
- 30-Nov-2006 : Lord Justice Laws and Mr Justice Walker dismiss Babar Ahmad's High Court Appeal in Ahmad & Aswat vs. USA. Babar Ahmad transferred from HMP Woodhill to HMP Belmarsh and placed in the Segregation punishment unit for no reason.
- 13-Jul-2006 : This was the last day of Babar Ahmad's High Court appeal hearings. Lord Justice Laws and Mr Justice Walker will now give their decision either towards the end of July 2006, or in the beginning of October 2006.
- 12-Jul-2006 : Several Members of Parliament mention Babar Ahmad's case in an emergency debate on UK-US extradition at the UK House of Commons.
- 11-Jul-2006 : This was the first day of Babar Ahmad's High Court appeal hearings. To read the court accounts, please go to the icon on the left hand side marked 'Court Accounts'. Babar Ahmad appears by video link from HMP Woodhill.
- 23-Jun-2006 : A damning report is released which provides evidence linking the flawed UK-US extradition policy to the radicalisation of British Muslim youth.
- 10-Apr-2006 : Babar Ahmad transfers representation of his police assault case to Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, having left Arani & Co Solicitors in February 2006.
- 15-Feb-2006 : Babar Ahmad transfers from Arani & Co solicitors to Birnberg Peirce & Partners Solicitors for representation in his extradition case.
- 28-Nov-2005 : UK Parliamentary Home Affairs Select Committee raises concerns about Babar Ahmad's case due to the possibility of it being prosecuted in the UK.
- 15-Nov-2005 : Home Secretary rules that Babar Ahmad should be extradited to the United States. Babar Ahmad's legal team launch appeal against this decision at the High Court.
- 10-Sep-2005 : Home Secretary Charles Clarke requests a further 60 day extension to to making a decision. A petition of over 18,000 signatures is hand-delivered to the Home Secretary's office by Babar Ahmad's MP, Sadiq Khan.
- 15-Jul-2005 : Home Secretary Charles Clarke requests a further 60 day extension to making a decision.
- 17-May-2005 : Senior District Judge Timothy Workman rules that Babar Ahmad should be extradited but acknowledges the case is `difficult and troubling because it could have been prosecuted in the UK`. See Court Accounts for further information. The matter is handed over to Home Secretary to give his final decision within 60 days.
- 05-May-2005 : Babar Ahmad stands for election in the UK General Election, becoming only the second prisoner in history to do so after Irish prisoner Bobby Sands in 1981. He wins 2% of the vote in the Brent North constituency of London, coming fourth after the three main parties.
- 28-Apr-2005 : Babar Ahmad transferred back from HMP Belmarsh to HMP Woodhill.
- 18-Apr-2005 : Main Extradition Hearing at Bow Street Magistrates Court continues. See Court Accounts section for details. Over 400 protesters against the extradition gather outside the Court
- 13-Apr-2005 : PC Roderick James-Bowen cleared of all charges at Police Misconduct Tribunal. Tribunal commends him for his bravery in assaulting Babar Ahmad.
- 11-Apr-2005 : Police Misconduct Tribunal opens behind closed doors at Woolwich Crown Court. Babar Ahmad testifies in person.
- 22-Mar-2005 : Babar Ahmad transferred from HMP Woodhill to HMP Belmarsh.
- 02-Mar-2005 : Babar Ahmad appears at Bow Street Magistrate's Court for defence hearing against extradition. Nearly 200 protesters gathered outside the court. The court was adjourned until 24th March for a remand and review hearing by video-link. The final main hearing is to be held on 18th April 2005.
- 14-Jan-2005 : IPCC announces decision to supervise an internal Police Misconduct Tribunal against PC Roderick James-Bowen (b. 1971) for using excessive force on Babar Ahmad.
- 16-Dec-2004 : BA appeared briefly at Bow Street Magistrate's Court via video-link from Woodhill Prison. This was a routine `remand hearing` which occurs approximately every month. BA just has to confirm his name and date of birth etc.
- 18-Nov-2004 : Babar Ahmad appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court for the start of the main extradition hearing before Senior District Judge Timothy Workman.
- 12-Nov-2004 : BA appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court via video link and is remanded in custody at Woodhill Prison.
- 04-Nov-2004 : BA appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court and is remanded in custody until 12th November 2004
- 07-Oct-2004 : BA appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court for bail application. Despite numerous referees including work colleagues and doctors; alongside sureties which added up to several hundred thousand pounds sterling, the bail application was refused by District Judge Timothy Workman on the grounds BA may fail to surrender, or re-offend.
- 10-Sep-2004 : BA appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court, remanded in custody at Woodhill Prison by District Judge Christopher Pratt.
- 08-Sep-2004 : CPS announces that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute the police officers who assaulted Babar Ahmad
- 13-Aug-2004 : BA appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court, remanded in custody at Woodhill Prison by District Judge Christopher Pratt.
- 06-Aug-2004 : BA appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court, remanded in custody at Woodhill Prison by District Judge Christopher Pratt.
- 05-Aug-2004 : BA re-arrested on extradition warrant from US
- 15-Jul-2004 : Metropolitan Police passes case of Babar Ahmed's assault by police to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
- 08-Dec-2003 : BA released without charge. Files complaint against police assault to Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)
- 02-Dec-2003 : Babar Ahmad arrested, assaulted by police officers in London, UK, sustaining over 73 injuries.
