Attorney To Discuss Extradition With Pang
An attorney for Martin Pang said he will travel to Brazil soon to discuss his client’s legal options against charges that Pang was responsible for an arson fire that killed four Seattle firefighters.
John Henry Browne said no decision had been made on whether to fight Pang’s extradition to Seattle.
“There are many options, and we are going to discuss them all,” Browne said. “It all depends on what is in Martin’s best interests.”
Legal experts have said it could be months before Pang is returned to Seattle to stand trial if he decides to fight extradition.
Pang has been held in a Rio de Janeiro jail since his arrest there March 16. He is charged with arson and four counts of first-degree murder in the Jan. 5 fire that destroyed the frozen-food warehouse owned by his parents.
The firefighters died after the floor beneath them gave way, trapping them in the basement.
Pang, 39, fled to Brazil from California after eluding Seattle police and federal agents.
Lawyers for a Brazilian law firm have been helping Browne with Pang’s case, but the firm has not been formally retained to represent Pang.
“One reason for going down there is to determine who we finally are going to hire,” Browne said. “I will be interviewing several people.”
King County filed extradition papers with the U.S. Justice Department several weeks ago, but the translation into Portuguese won’t be finished until Monday, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the county prosecutor’s office.
Brazilian authorities have asked to review all witness statements in the Pang case and have requested that the documents be sent in the form of affidavits and signed.
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