Alexander Hilton, Attempted Murder, Massachusetts 2011

BOSTON – Alexander Hilton, a 24-year-old man from Princeton, Mass., has been extradited to Scotland to face trial on attempted murder charges. The charges stem from an incident on March 5, 2011, in which Hilton allegedly poisoned Robert Forbes.

Hilton had returned to the United States shortly after the attempt and was questioned by investigators in Scotland. However, he remained in the U.S. until his arrest on Feb. 13, 2013, for purposes of extradition in response to a request from the United Kingdom.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer Boal released Hilton on conditions, including a cash bond and home detention on March 5, 2013. During extradition proceedings, Judge Boal found that Hilton was subject to extradition to the UK, after reviewing the UK request and hearing additional evidence from Hilton regarding his mental health.

Hilton challenged the extradition certification decision, arguing that his extradition to Scotland would result in his suffering from an increased risk of suicide due to his mental health condition. However, his petition for a writ of habeas corpus was denied, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the decision.

According to the U.S. Attorney, the case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Heinrich of Ortiz’s Drug Task Force Unit, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division. The transfer was coordinated and carried out by the U.S. Marshals Service.

The U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal John Gibbons made the announcement today. The U.S. Attorney stated that the case was a result of the efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies and judicial bodies.

The case against Alexander Hilton is ongoing in a Scottish court, where he will face trial for attempted murder. The outcome of the case is yet to be determined.

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