A man who fled to the US while on bail over a double shooting has filed papers in New York, challenging attempts to extradite him back to Bermuda.

Jahmel Blakeney, 28, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder since his departure from the Island, relating to the shooting of shooting of Shaki Minors and Renee Kuchler as they left Southside Cinema late last November 13.

A second man, Sanchey Grant, 19, from Warwick, is facing the same charges over the incident. Both suspects were arrested in connection with the shooting the day after it happened. However, Blakeney — who is a citizen of both Bermuda and the United States and the son of Cabinet Minister Glenn Blakeney — fled to the US after being released on Police bail.

He was charged in his absence on April 26 and arrested at a residence in Brooklyn, New York on June 10. He has been held in custody since his arrest, and prosecutors in the US and Bermuda are currently seeking his extradition to the Island.

On September 10, Blakeney’s lawyer Michael Schneider filed papers at the Eastern District of New York Court in Brooklyn, challenging the extradition proceedings.Mr. Schneider wrote: ”Mr. Blakeney does not contest that he is the person sought by the Bermudan (sic) authorities. Neither does he contest that the charges of attempted murder in Bermuda are punishable by more than one year in both the United States and Bermuda.

”However, 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.

”He therefore moves this court to deny the requested certification of extraditability and discharge him from custody.

”Assistant United States Attorney Michael Canty filed papers on September 22 in support of the application for extradition.

The papers state the legal principles involved, and ask United States Magistrate Judge Steven Gold to determine that Bermuda has made a submission “sufficient to sustain each of the charges,” and to certify the extradition of Blakeney.

A hearing date has yet to be set for the ruling in the matter.Meanwhile, a trial date has been set in Bermuda for the shooting case to be heard on April 18, 2011.

Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves commented at last month’s arraignments session that the trial date would stand, “if we are able to have Mr. Blakeney by Christmas”.

Grant remains in custody, and is scheduled to return to court for a further update at the November 1 arraignments session.