Thread: U.S. Border Patrol Comes Under Scrutiny

Goodbye and good riddance. Found an updated article on the crazy Canadian. Check the alipac link for this guys picture.

https://www.alipac.us/ftopict-4659-gregory.html+despres

www.boston.com

Murder suspect agrees to extradition
US Customs' role scrutinized after slaying in Canada
By Ralph Ranalli, Globe Staff | July 22, 2005

A 22-year-old man who crossed the Canadian border into Maine this spring carrying a bloody chainsaw agreed to be extradited to Canada yesterday at a hearing at which US prosecutors said blood found on his clothing matches the DNA of a slaying victim in New Brunswick.

A day after Gregory Despres crossed the border in April raving about being a Marine sniper who worked for President Bush, Canadian police found the decapitated body of his neighbor, 74-year-old Frederick Fulton. Fulton's head was in a pillowcase near his body; police also found the body of Fulton's companion, Verna Decarie, who had been stabbed to death.

Despres was arrested late the next day in Mattapoisett, where he was seen walking down a road wearing a sweatshirt that appeared to be covered in blood.

While saying that his client is mentally ill and not competent to face murder charges, Despres's lawyer said in US District Court that his client had little legal ammunition to fight the extradition request, which was brought by US Attorney Michael Sullivan's office on behalf of Canadian authorities.

''The case law on immigration is very narrow," said Boston lawyer Michael Andrews, who was appointed by the court to represent Despres. ''But in my opinion, he would not be deemed fit to stand trial in any court in the US."

Despres appeared in court wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and a long Mohawk haircut; he did not speak during the brief hearing.

Andrews said that courts have generally held that mental competency should be determined in the country where the charges originated. He also said that the fact that Despres has an outstanding warrant in Canada for failing to appear in an earlier criminal case was enough, by itself, for Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler to order his extradition.

Bowler did not issue a ruling yesterday, but Andrews said he expected her to issue an extradition order within the next few days.

On April 25, the same day he entered the United States, Despres was to have faced sentencing on a conviction for assaulting and threatening neighbor Frederick Mowat in Minto, New Brunswick. Authorities said Fulton was Mowat's grandfather.

The bodies of Fulton and Decarie had not been discovered, however, when Despres arrived at the US-Canada border crossing at Calais, Maine, early in the morning, officials said. Still, some have said, there was plenty about Despres to give border guards pause, including the fact that he was carrying a chainsaw that appeared to have flecks of blood on it.

Border officials said Despres was also carrying a homemade sword, a knife, brass knuckles, and a hatchet. When questioned over a three-hour period by border officials, he said he was a Marine sniper with more than ''700 kills," that he worked for the president, and that he had a helicopter waiting for him across the border.

Elected officials in US and Canada have criticized the US Customs and Border Protection Service for not detaining Despres longer, or at least warning local authorities in Maine.

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, however, has insisted that border officials did everything they had the power to do, seizing the weapons and chainsaw and checking Despres's background to see if he had an outstanding warrants. US officials say their options were limited in part by the fact that Despres was a US citizen returning to his own country.

US officials have said Customs authorities knew that Despres was supposed to appear in court for sentencing on the misdemeanor assault and threatening charges, but at the time he arrived at the border, Canadian authorities had not yet issued a warrant for his arrest. Canadian officials said that the warrant was issued later that morning.

Assistant US Attorney Aloke Chakravarty said US officials were told by Canadian authorities this week that DNA testing done on clothing seized from Despres after his arrest matched Fulton's blood.

Officials at the New Brunswick Public Prosecution Service, which is handling the murder case against Despres, could not be reached for comment

Border officials said Despres was also carrying a homemade sword, a knife, brass knuckles, and a hatchet. When questioned over a three-hour period by border officials, he said he was a Marine sniper with more than ''700 kills," that he worked for the president, and that he had a helicopter waiting for him across the border.

"a Marine sniper with 700 kills working for the president, coming back from Canada with a helicopter waiting on the US side"!

Well....I wonder why that didin't raise some eyebrows in Border Control....a Marine on the loose killing for the President.....sure let him through, why not?!?!

Originally Posted by Judy

Border officials said Despres was also carrying a homemade sword, a knife, brass knuckles, and a hatchet. When questioned over a three-hour period by border officials, he said he was a Marine sniper with more than ''700 kills," that he worked for the president, and that he had a helicopter waiting for him across the border.

"a Marine sniper with 700 kills working for the president, coming back from Canada with a helicopter waiting on the US side"!

Well....I wonder why that didin't raise some eyebrows in Border Control....a Marine on the loose killing for the President.....sure let him through, why not?!?!

It could happen.

Despres hitchhiked to the border crossing

what idiot would pick up somebody "carrying a homemade sword, a knife, brass knuckles, and a hatchet"?

A Motorist With a Death Wish?

Border Patrol did all they COULD do? No way. This is ridiculous.

RR