Bebb-Jones Fears the Death Penalty

British poker pro’ Marcus Bebb-Jones could face the death penalty if found guilty of the murder of his wife. Bebb-Jones is accused of murdering his wife, Sabrina, in 1997 before embarking on a “playboy lifestyle” in Las Vegas.

Ben Cooper, counsel for the defence, said he was seeking assurances Bebb-Jones would not face the death penalty if extradited to the United States.

Mr Cooper told an extradition hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court: “He faces a minimum sentence of life without parole in Colorado but this is not yet fixed – he is also eligible for the death penalty.”

District Judge Nicholas Evans said: “This court is not going to extradite anyone who will face the death penalty. That’s for sure.”

Bebb-Jones was arrested at his Kidderminster home in 2009. He faces accusations that, following the murder of his wife, he went on a spending spree with her credit cards and then botched his suicide attempt.

The judge agreed to postpone his decision until next month, telling Bebb-Jones he would remain in custody until February 22 for a video link appearance. He added it was hoped the case would be resolved on March 10.

Aaron Watkins, representing the US Government, said: “On September 16 1997 he took his wife to a national park in Colorado where she was murdered.

“Thereafter he spun a number of stories which conflicted one another in order to explain her absence.

“On the weekend following that incident it is said Mr Bebb-Jones went to Las Vegas and spent thousands of dollars, partially using credit cards in his wife’s name.

“He lived a playboy lifestyle during the course of that weekend which culminated in him putting a gun in his mouth and shooting himself in the head.

“Whether by judgment or design, he did not cause any life-threatening injuries.”

We’ll have all the news from this case, as it happens, here at Poker News Headlines.