Extradition Trial For Kim Dotcom Pushed Back Again

from the stalling,-stalling dept

Mon, Jun 10th 2013 7:24pm — Mike Masnick

It's not entirely clear why this is happening, but it appears that the hearings concerning Kim Dotcom's extradition have been postponed yet again (apparently for the 4th time). It mostly seems to have to do with this whole issue of getting access to the evidence against him, which the US has been fighting.

His extradition hearing has already been delayed several times due to legal action relating to an illegal raid on his home and disclosure of evidence relating to his case.

A hearing in August has now been put off until April next year.

But a tentative date has been set for November, just in case a final ruling on whether his lawyers should have access to evidence, is quickly made.

Either way, it seems like this case may drag on for quite a while.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: doj, evidence, extradition, fbi, kim dotcom, new zealand
Companies: megaupload

55 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

That One Guy (profile), 10 Jun 2013 @ 6:23pm

Enough already
With all the stonewalling the US and DoJ has done with this mockery of the legal system, you'd think the NZ judges would grow a spine long enough to tell them 'You have until the following date to comply with past and current court orders involving this case, otherwise your extradition request for Kim Dotcom will be denied, with no possibility to appeal this ruling until you can show sufficient evidence of having complied with the court's orders.'
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

horse with no name, 10 Jun 2013 @ 7:44pm

Predictable
It seems that Kim's entire defense plan is to (a) create as many delays and diversions as possible, and then (b) come back a week later and bitch about being held hostage by the legal system. My guess is Kim will issue this sort of statement in the next few days, saying that justice again being delayed, while not admitting that it's his own fight against extradition that is keeping this from moving forward in the US courts.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Internet Zen Master (profile), 10 Jun 2013 @ 8:11pm
  
  Re: Predictable
  Considering the questionable "evidence" against him, and the fact that if he came to the US he'd be walking into an "if he floats he's guilty, if he drowns he's innocent" scenario, I can understand why he's fighting extradition.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Rapnel (profile), 10 Jun 2013 @ 8:49pm
  
  Re: Predictable
  Your views seem entirely one-sided. Is justice not just? Or you'd would perhaps prefer the path to justice that follows one prescribed?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    
    horse with no name, 10 Jun 2013 @ 9:08pm
    
    Re: Re: Predictable
    Justice is just... but Kim generally plays it both ways. He has his laywers file motion after motion, delay after delay, and then has the balls to come out and complain about delays!
    
    His entire tactic appears to be to avoid justice for the real crime, and instead to play the extradition game for as long as he can keep that ball in the air. He is just avoiding justice, and that is not just at all.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Internet Zen Master (profile), 10 Jun 2013 @ 9:16pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Predictable
      ...And what 'real crime' has Kim committed again?
      
      Last I checked, running a site like MegaUpload was not a crime. In fact, the 38 files DOJ keep holding up as examples of his guilt are the ones that they told MegaUpload not to mess with until further notice (they were related to NinjaVideo case) or get charged with tampering of evidence.
      
      So... what was Dotcom guilty of again (Other than having an ego the size of the Sun)?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - PRMan, 10 Jun 2013 @ 10:02pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Predictable
        Having a body the size of the sun?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 1:27am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Predictable
        That cant possibly be a crime in America. No one would be allowed to walk the streets freely...oh wait.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - RubyPanther, 11 Jun 2013 @ 11:42am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Predictable
        His ego is bigger than the Sun, it's as big as his ass. Luckily for him, even lame people get to have access to the evidence against him.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 10 Jun 2013 @ 9:35pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Predictable
      Your definition of "justice" is that John Steele should be acquitted of all charges and Otis Wright should be harshly dealt with.
      
      No one's going to take you seriously on that definition.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 1:42am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Predictable
        Just like the other trolls - whenever they say they want "justice", they're deliberately omitting the "in" at the start of the word.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        PaulT (profile), 11 Jun 2013 @ 2:07am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Predictable
        No, it's more like they're using the wrong word - they want retribution, not justice. They've already decided guilt and want quick and swift punishment. They get frustrated because actual justice includes things that don't make that possible - assumption of innocence before guilt, due process, the right to a fair trial, prosecution based on actual evidence with the right to a defense, punishment in proportion to the crime, etc.
        
        They get frustrated because others call for actual justice rather than the witch-hunt they truly desire.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 6:45am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Predictable
        That sense of retribution isn't even their own. They're too ignorant to actually see the details and they just repeat the same tantrums the big companies throw when they don't get their way.
        
        I think that's the reason why they never address how disturbing it is that the government would bend over backwards for these corporations.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Pragmatic, 11 Jun 2013 @ 5:18am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Predictable
      Typical authoritarian. Not your problem, not your business, till it happens to you. I've got two words for you, buddy: Due. Process.
      
      They should apply to EVERYBODY, including you.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 6:42am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Predictable
      "He is just avoiding justice, and that is not just at all."
      
      HAHAHAHAHA
      
      Hearing this come from someone who supports a corrupt government is pretty classic.
      
      Keep living in your bubble, horse.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - John Fenderson (profile), 11 Jun 2013 @ 1:55pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Predictable
      His entire tactic appears to be to avoid justice for the real crime
      
      From where I sit, it looks like what he's doing is trying to avoid being tried in the kangaroo court that awaits him in the US.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- apauld (profile), 10 Jun 2013 @ 9:58pm
  
  Re: Predictable
  Our government ordered the destruction of the very drives with the supposed evidence on them. His defense plan is a matter of not getting caught in a witch hunt. As a witch you should certainly understand these issues.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- techflaws (profile), 10 Jun 2013 @ 10:26pm
  
  Re: Predictable
  Funny how you completely fail to mention the fact that there's no goddamn reason why ANYONE would wanna be extratided to the US judicial system ever - on trumped up copyright charges (aka fingerpointing by the powers that be), no less.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Rikuo (profile), 11 Jun 2013 @ 12:22am
  
  Re: Predictable
  So...DotCom is at fault for having the temerity to demand that the FBI's illegally cloned hard drives be destroyed and the evidence returned to him? My god, the sheer gall of the man!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- PaulT (profile), 11 Jun 2013 @ 12:39am
  
  Re: Predictable
  Yes, he should just roll over and accept the foreign country attacking him, one whose agents have shown no qualms thus far in breaking their own laws to get him. A country where neither he nor his company was located at the time of the "crimes" should get to drag him through their courts without opposition.
  
  This is what you people actually believe. That personal liberty, rights, and even the laws of the country you're actually operating from should be trashed just because another country doesn't like what you're doing and fear for their corporations' profits. That government agents breaking their own rules at the behest of private corporations should be able to dictate where and how justice is served. That's scary.
  
  Sorry, the rest of us respect jurisdiction, rule of law, the right to fair trial and due process. If at the end of this, Dotcom receives a fair trial and is found guilty, then so be it. But, he's going to exercise his rights in the meantime, and if it's the media circus aspect you dislike, well it's the **AAs and their lackeys who created it to begin with.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 8:18am
  
  Re: Predictable
  one trick pony, it's the fact that the USA won't comply with simple requests like giving dotcom's lawyers access to evidence that is holding this dog and pony show up
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- DP, 11 Jun 2013 @ 10:40am
  
  Re: Predictable
  Why should it move forward in the US courts when everything that should lead up to that event has been botched in spectacular fashion? I do include charges which are probably trumped up, an illegal house raid - the list goes on. OOTB would love to by-pass all these things, obviously, and just throw the guy in jail with no due process. Whatever you may think of Dotcom, he deserves the same fair treatment as everyone else from the legal system and, quite plainly, he has not had it.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

Anonymous Coward, 10 Jun 2013 @ 8:02pm

the 25 seconds of NSA outrage is OVER
As predicted!

Here we are right back to Kim Dotfagpig, and next standby for something on PRENDA !!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Rapnel (profile), 10 Jun 2013 @ 8:47pm
  
  Re: the 25 seconds of NSA outrage is OVER
  Still pathetic. Keep working at it though.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 10 Jun 2013 @ 9:03pm
  
  Re: the 25 seconds of NSA outrage is OVER
  Sounds like darryl is furious that Prenda continues to be profiled. Isn't that sad.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 2:22am
    
    Re: Re: the 25 seconds of NSA outrage is OVER
    sorry I just don't care about Prenda or Dotfatpig at all, I have no interest in engaging you in any form of 'debate' regarding them..
    
    As Homer Simpson puts it so well.
    
    "I would really love to want to care, but... you know".
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - PaulT (profile), 11 Jun 2013 @ 2:45am
      
      Re: Re: Re: the 25 seconds of NSA outrage is OVER
      "sorry I just don't care about Prenda or Dotfatpig at all"
      
      So why are you commenting on articles about them? If a subject truly doesn't interest me, I skip over the article and move onto something that does. I certainly don't click and start attacking other people, and calling the subject of the articles stupid childish names.
      
      Why do you do this?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 6:48am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: the 25 seconds of NSA outrage is OVER
        He probably ran out of markers to sniff.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 2:57am
      
      Re: Re: Re: the 25 seconds of NSA outrage is OVER
      Funnily enough if you didn't want to discuss Prenda, you shouldn't have mentioned them in a completely irrelevant article to begin with.
      
      But I suppose even simple acts of logic like this are beyond the mind of a jackass like you, who hates Fair Use in Australia and think you hold above average intelligence over most Australians.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Pragmatic, 11 Jun 2013 @ 5:20am
      
      Re: Re: Re: the 25 seconds of NSA outrage is OVER
      Then why are you here?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 10 Jun 2013 @ 9:26pm
  
  Re: the 25 seconds of NSA outrage is OVER
  Are you proud of yourself? If so, I feel bad for you.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

out_of_the_blue, 10 Jun 2013 @ 8:21pm

How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
It's another mystery like "How Can NSA Surveillance Leaks Both Be No Big Deal And Put Us All In Danger?", and: How can anyone be against the surveillance state yet support Google?

ACTUALLY, of course, those are sheerly words that attempt to support an underlying agenda. We all know that Clapper of the NSA is flat out lying. Now you kids can try to come up with some rationalization that covers Mike's contradictory positions on the other two points.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Rapnel (profile), 10 Jun 2013 @ 8:48pm
  
  Re: How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
  Still barely irrelevant. Good luck though.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 3:27am
    
    Re: Re: How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
    Give us a concrete example where KDC stole something that was copyrighted? maybe the FBI, CIA, NSA or Homeland Security can show us this proof but they refuse to do so.
    
    And doesn't it strike you as odd that they all say "Yes, there is a smoking gun, it's got KDC's fingerprints all over it" And yet, THEY REFUSE TO SHOW IT TO US!!
    
    Doesn't that strike you as odd?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 4:38am
      
      Re: Re: Re: How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
      It doesn't strike anyone as odd, that is how they usually operate.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 10:21am
      
      Re: Re: Re: How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
      Maybe the NSA hid it in their other stolen records.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- apauld (profile), 10 Jun 2013 @ 10:01pm
  
  Re: How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
  You should really quit huffing the Vagisil.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 10 Jun 2013 @ 10:15pm
  
  Re: How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
  Well, it's pretty simple really. Google is not the government and you can just...not use it. I know. Difficult.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- apauld (profile), 10 Jun 2013 @ 10:26pm
  
  Re: How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
  I also feel compelled to mention, that recently (last couple of weeks or so) you are completely losing the Fucktard Olympics to 'whore with no brain.'
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Rikuo (profile), 11 Jun 2013 @ 12:25am
  
  Re: How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
  "How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?"
  
  I sincerely hope you're being sarcastic there, because in case you haven't realized, there is such a thing as a shade of grey. Copyright isn't a you-support-it-as-is or don't-at-all scenario, you can be like Mike and support the idea of copyright but be completely against what it's become today: the default tool that people grab onto when they want to censor others.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - PaulT (profile), 11 Jun 2013 @ 12:44am
    
    Re: Re: How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
    "in case you haven't realized, there is such a thing as a shade of grey"
    
    No, these guys don't realise that, which is why their arguments consistently fail. Everyone has to support copyright unquestioningly, or want to remove it completely - no middle ground. Everyone has to either be a 100% legal purchaser or a pirate - no middle ground. Everyone has to support the major labels unquestioningly or support illegal channels - no middle ground.
    
    Actual nuanced arguments frustrate and confuse them - which is why half their posts devolve into childish namecalling or "why won't Mike state his position on something he's talked about for the last 10 years" despite having done just that.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Niall (profile), 11 Jun 2013 @ 2:50am
      
      Re: Re: Re: How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
      Either you support loss of all rights to fight 'terrorism', or you are a filthy terrorist (sympathiser).
      
      It's like when you see various so-called Christian sects throwing around accusations of other sects following their man below for not being One True Christians...
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 1:46am
  
  Re: How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
  It's possible to support the basic premise of copyright while opposing the undisputable abuses and acts of extortion that you seem to support.
  
  Supporting copyright doesn't preclude opposing terrorism instead of wanking over it like you do.
  
  It's about what's right, which is pretty much the opposite of what you want.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 3:23pm
  
  Re: How is it Mike both "supports copyright" and defends Kim Dotcom?
  Still running off-topic to attack things like Google, I see. Point of fact, this article has nothing to do with copyright. This article is actually about due process and not trying to bend the law to the will of corporations. The better question should be 'how can out_of_the_blue hate corporations so much, and still want to support their too-far reaching bids for power?'
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Rapnel (profile), 10 Jun 2013 @ 8:54pm

troll paper
Kim's plight is to trolls what flypaper is to flies I see. Only their troll wings are still flapping.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
  
  horse with no name, 10 Jun 2013 @ 9:09pm
  
  Re: troll paper
  Explains Mike's posts... trying to attract flies.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 10 Jun 2013 @ 9:35pm
    
    Re: Re: troll paper
    Which would explain why you're here.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 10 Jun 2013 @ 9:54pm
    
    Re: Re: troll paper
    And succeeding, judging by your numerous posts, ass with no brain.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - techflaws (profile), 11 Jun 2013 @ 2:02am
    
    Re: Re: troll paper
    You're almost too easy, genius.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 2:22am
      
      Re: Re: Re: troll paper
      Like his female parental unit.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 1:29am

You can tell when there is something out that makes the corporations look bad. The trolls come out of the woodwork in an attempt to derail the topic.

They have no serious logic, apparently no ability to back up what they want to claim with references, rarely read the article beyond the title, and have no conception of justice beyond the lynch mob mentality they espouse.

I agree with the poster that said the judge on this case in New Zealand should lay down the law that there will be no extradition until the US meets the demands put on it by the New Zealand justice department. That failure to do so timely would result in the end of the process of extradition.

The US DOJ has been the one holding up the extradition process by the illegal acts they have committed during the evidence presented to have SWAT teams no less create a raid. This is not to mention all the illegal activities that have been revealed to have happened in New Zealand.

Somehow our trolls conveniently don't want to talk about that. I wonder why not? Justice is supposed to be about what is just, not government witch hunts.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 1:40am

is there anything else that the US DoJ can or is going to be able to dream up to be able to continue with this case? they've made one of the most glorious fuck ups ever and instead of dropping all charges and backing quietly away into a dark corner and hiding, they keep on making bigger and bigger prats of themselves! they need to admit that what they tried to do was not only illegal but unwarranted as well. they need to admit who got them roped into this shit storm and make sure it doesn't happen again. this and all other law enforcement agencies are not there to be the private police force for any single industry and they are supposed to be the best example of what law enforcement is all about, not some slap dash body that roars into a situation, with no legitimate evidence, just because some big named, jealous and greedy individual(s) tells you to!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 5:23am

Bawk Bawk Cluck Cluck, Mikey.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 6:33am
  
  Re:
  Why won't you talk about Prenda, average_joe? y u no debate mi?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 11 Jun 2013 @ 8:51am
  
  Re:
  I don't think you're going to have much luck getting a job representing poultry, AJ.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]