Dotcom gets what may be his final delay
NBR reports:
A High Court judge has given Kim Dotcom and his co-accused more time to prepare for their extradition hearing.
The US government wants Mr Dotcom and co-accused Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk to go to the US to face copyright infringement charges for their alleged roles in file-sharing site Mega Upload.
While District Court judge Nevin Dawson had said the extradition hearing should take place on June 2, Justice Sarah Katz has quashed this decision. The High Court judge has told the District Court to set a date no earlier than September 1 this year.
September the 1st is a Tuesday so that day works!
However, the judge did not let Mr Dotcom and his co-accused off without a warning.
In her decision she says she has decided “with some reluctance” that the interests of natural justice require a later date.
“This should not be taken by the plaintiffs, however, as a signal that any ongoing funding or representation difficulties [if they arise] would be likely to justify further adjournments.
I would be willing to wager a lot of money that in a few months they will seek a further adjournment.
“On the contrary, the plaintiffs must take full responsibility for preparing their extradition hearing on whatever new date is allocated, with whatever level of legal support they are able to secure.”
Although Justice Katz tossed out Mr Dotcom and his co-accused’s arguments that they had not been given full and proper notice of the case, she said they were unable to prepare due to representation and funding.
The Justice is being generous. Dotcom had so much money he spent over a million dollars on the worst CD of all time. He also spent $4.5 million on possibly the worst political campaign of all time.
Because he spent all his money on music and politics, he couldn’t pay his lawyers, and hence he gets a delay.
Hopefully this is the last delay.