Fair Trial for Our Boys Abroad

Ranjit Banwait, Councillor for Boulton Ward in Derby, has started a petition to help two local residents facing extradition to Latvia get a fair trial.

David Birkinshaw, Matthew Neale and their families, have had their lives turned upside down. They were both due to marry recently and have now put their lives on hold. Worse still, if extradited they face an expensive legal process in an overseas country that could result in financial ruin and heartache for their partners and young children.

It follows an incident last year on a lads stag to Latvia when the two family men say they were wrongly arrested and then detained by police.

Now the local Councillor of David Birkinshaw, and also helping Matthew Neale, has started a petition following the consent of the families involved.

Both residents contacted Councillor Ranjit Banwait after hearing of his strong track record in representing Derby residents on a range of issues.

Councillor Ranjit Banwait said: “When Mr Birkinshaw first contacted me my initial thought was – what can I do as a local councillor? However, after listening to their plight I started to believe in their innocence and concerned about the distress being caused to them and their families. I resolved to do all I can to help them”.

Councillor Banwait has contacted their solicitor, local M.P and M.E.P. He has also written to the Latvian Ambassador appealing for help in the matter. He has assured both David, Mathew, and their families, that if they are extradited they won’t be forgotten.

"I want to keep their plight in the public spot light so that the authorities in Latvia do everything possible to ensure that our boys abroad get a fair trial, are well treated and are brought back home after the trial, if it does comes to that”.