UK man fights extradition to Australia

A former accountant accused of raping three women in their homes in Australia more than 30 years ago has launched a High Court appeal against moves to extradite him from the UK for trial.

Colin Henderson, 63, was arrested by officers from Scotland Yard after a new probe in which a DNA profile was sent to the UK and allegedly matched to him.

His fingerprints were reported to match those found at several of the 1980s crime scenes.

Prosecutors claim Henderson targeted his victims after each placed newspaper adverts in Victoria looking for a lodger.

But his lawyers argue that he is unfit to fly back to Australia, and extraditing him would be unlawful because of the passage of time since the alleged offences were committed.

On Monday, High Court official Master Gidden gave Henderson more time, until February 23, to obtain fresh evidence to support his appeal.

Master Gidden had heard submissions that extra time was required because the prison authorities at HMP Wandsworth, south-west London - where Henderson is being detained, had refused to allow him to travel to hospital for medical tests - and it was now necessary for him to apply for bail for 12 hours so that he could get to hospital.

A lawyer representing the Australian government, Mark Weekes, described the situation as "astonishing".

He said it could take "the better part of a year" to obtain Henderson's removal

Henderson is alleged to have tricked his way into the homes of the three female victims between 1981 and 1984, when he was living in Australia, by pretending to be interested in renting rooms, then raping them.

In total he faces 58 charges, all relating to the three alleged attacks - including rape, assault and aggravated burglary.