A Spanish man wanted for the rape and murder of British schoolgirl Caroline Dickenson can be extradited to France, a Miami judge decided last night in the first US case based primarily on DNA evidence.
US Judge Stephen Brown rejected challenges to the reliability of two French DNA reports. An appeal is expected.
But Francisco Javier Arce Montes is unlikely to go anywhere until after a trial in the US on charges of burglary and lewd conduct, scheduled to begin on July 2nd.
"He will not be put on a plane until the state matter is concluded," said Assistant US attorney Mr Luis Perez.
Two French laboratories assigned to perform independent tests concluded Arce's DNA is an identical match to semen found at the French youth hostel where the holidaying 13-year-old Caroline, from Launceston, Cornwall was killed in her sleep in 1996.
The defence hired an expert to undermine the French DNA work. But Judge Brown ruled the extradition papers from France met treaty requirements.