Extradition decision disappoints families

PORTLAND – Friends and relatives of three New England fishermen who were killed in a high-seas collision said they’re angry and disappointed that U.S. authorities dropped a request to extradite three Russian sailors who were being held in Canada.

The captain and two crewmen from the oil tanker Virgo were arrested in Newfoundland after the ship allegedly fled the scene of a collision with the Rockland, Maine-based trawler Starbound off the Massachusetts coast on Aug. 5, 2001.

The Newfoundland Supreme Court was told last week that American authorities no longer are seeking to extradite the three to face involuntary manslaughter charges.

A Canadian lawyer representing the Virgo’s owner said the case is now being investigated by Russian prosecutors.

Relatives of the three victims, two of whom were from Maine, said the decision to drop extradition was made without notifying them.

Bruce Doughty, whose brother Mark Doughty of Yarmouth died in the collision, said the government’s decision, after more than four years, adds to the pain that is still fresh for family members.

“It’s one of those things, you feel totally helpless. There’s nothing you can do about it,” said Doughty, adding that he’s lost all hope there will be an American trial for the Russian sailors.

Joseph Marcantonio of Gloucester, Mass., the only survivor from the Starbound, said he doesn’t understand why U.S. officials gave up before getting a ruling in court.

Marcantonio also said he learned about the government’s decision from the news media and is angry officials didn’t meet with the survivors first.

“Why didn’t they gather us all in a room before they went ahead to release it in Canada? It’s really just negligence on their part,” he said.

Marcantonio, who swam free when the Starbound sank, gave the description of a tanker steaming away and would have been a key witness in an American trial.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, sent a letter Friday to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales asking him to explain the Justice Department’s decision and its new plan for resolving the case.