EU approves plan for trials in absentia

European citizens could be convicted in their absence by foreign courts under plans approved in principle by the EU parliament, reports the Times.

The proposals would allow citizens to be extradited automatically under fast-track procedures at the request of another EU country on the basis of a decision by the foreign court.

The overwhelming adoption by parliament of the proposals, which now go to the council of ministers, was condemned yesterday as "throwing habeas corpus out of the window".

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