A United States judge has granted the Bermuda Government's request to extradite Jahmel Blakeney back to the Island to face charges of attempted murder.

Blakeney, the son of Cabinet Minister Glenn Blakeney, fled to the US while on bail over the shooting of Shaki Minors and his pregnant girlfriend Renee Kuchler.

The pair were gunned down as they left Southside Cinema late last November 13 but have since recovered from their injuries.

Blakeney, 28, was charged with two counts of attempted murder after his departure from the Island. Although United States Magistrate Judge Steven Gold upheld Bermuda's request for him to be sent home, it could still take months to bring him back especially if he appeals the ruling.

His father, who was appointed Minister for Youth, Families and Community Development by the new Premier, Paula Cox, on Monday, said yesterday: "I haven't received any official notice so I would have to reserve comment at this time.

"I am a firm believer in the rule of law and due process, so any legal proceedings that are to follow will not be subject to commentary from me but a matter for my son and his legal counsel. He is my son and I love him, however I believe in personal accountability and responsibility."

Jahmel Blakeney and a second man, Sanchey Grant, 19, from Warwick, were both arrested in connection with the shooting the day after it happened. However, Blakeney — who is a Bermudian and American citizen — fled to the US after being released on Police bail.

He was charged in his absence on April 26 and arrested by US Marshals at a residence in Brooklyn, New York on June 10. Meanwhile Grant was charged at Magistrates' Court in Bermuda on April 22 with the same charges of attempted murder.

Blakeney was taken into custody after his arrest and prosecutors from Bermuda asked the United States District Court in Brooklyn to extradite him back to the Island.

Blakeney challenged the extradition, with his lawyer Michael Schneider stating in court papers: "Mr. Blakeney is not extraditable because Bermudan authorities have failed to provide sufficient proof, that is, probable cause, to believe that Mr. Blakeney committed the charged crimes."

However, Judge Gold upheld Bermuda's request for the extradition.

In a written ruling issued on Monday, he said there "is sufficient evidence to establish probable cause" and "the proof submitted by the Government is sufficient to support its extradition request".

The Royal Gazette is not publishing the details of the case set out in the court papers for legal reasons, due to the pending jury trial of Blakeney and Grant in Bermuda.

That trial has been provisionally slated for April 18. Senior Crown counsel Cindy Clarke from the Department of Public Prosecutions, who has been working on the extradition, explained yesterday: "Now that the US court has certified Blakeney's extradition, Blakeney has the right to appeal to the circuit court of appeals. There is no deadline for this appeal. However, if he does not appeal in 30 days after the finding of extraditability so before December 1 the US Department of Justice will ask the State Department to prepare the order of surrender."

Ms Clarke added: "If Blakeney does not appeal the initial order, the US will have to surrender him to us in 60 days, i.e. remove him from the US. However, because there is no deadline for filing an appeal, the earliest he can be surrendered is 31 to 60 days after the order of extraditability, so the earliest is December 2, and generally it is in the 45 to 60 day time period.

"If Blakeney files an appeal, the process could be delayed considerably, i.e. many months, while the court sets a briefing schedule and the parties file their briefs and then the parties argue the motion."

Detective Chief Inspector Nicholas Pedro of the Bermuda Police Service said: "We reserve comment at this time because we do not wish to prejudice the case, but look forward to presenting our evidence to the courts in the near future."

Blakeney's lawyer did not return calls for comment.