Courts / Cork / Report
Court orders extradition of alleged high-speed death fugitive to US
Summary
The High Court ordered the extradition of 23‑year‑old Samuel Joseph Tucker, who was arrested in Mayfield, Cork in August 2018 after a US extradition request. Tucker is wanted in Florida for a 2017 high‑speed crash that killed 22‑year‑old Alyssa Kay Vice. The crash involved a 2017 Maserati Ghibli travelling up to 140 mph, with Tucker's blood alcohol level reported at 0.162 g/dL, double the Florida limit. US charges include two counts of driving under the influence with property damage (maximum one year each) and one count of DUI manslaughter (minimum four years, maximum fifteen). Irish counsel argued the lack of mens rea in the US offence made extradition inappropriate, but Justice McDermott rejected this, stating the offence corresponds to Irish manslaughter. Tucker also claimed threats to his life, but the judge found the evidence insufficient to refuse extradition. The formal order will be made at 4 pm.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court orders extradition of alleged high-speed death fugitive to US. Charges or matters: driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI); DUI manslaughter. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 2018 Incident
- September 26, 2017 Incident
- May 3, 2018 Incident
- June 24, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2019-01-21 Publication
Why: Simon Donagh BL, for Mr Tucker, had previously submitted that there was no corresponding offence in Ireland to driving under the influence manslaughter because of the absence of "mens rea", or intent, in the US which breached his client's Constitutional right to a fair trial. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI); DUI manslaughter (Alleged Or Contested)
Places mentioned
- Olga Cronin The High Court
Topics
Related court reports
- Mentally ill man who put fellow psychiatric patient in chokehold to be immediately released into care of UK parents
- 'Alternative dispute resolution': man arranged 'straightener' during which dad-of-seven was stabbed to death
- Brothers who sexually assaulted teenage girls in mid-nineties can now be identified for first time
- ESB worker too late to pursue claim seeking €42k in alleged unpaid overtime
- 'No hand, act or part': Osgur Breatnach's wrongful conviction for Sallins train robbery declared a miscarriage of justice
- Migrant engineer who worked 10-hour days for under minimum wage wins €14k
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request