The Alberta Court of Appeal upheld a federal Justice Minister’s ruling on Jan. 15 to extradite Airdrie woman, Lisa Patricia Odale to the United States on charges of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamines in Lousiana, US more than a decade ago.
Odale, who also went by the alias “Lisa Old School” made written submissions to the Minister of Justice in October 2013, after being committed for extradition in June 2012, and denied appeal in May 2013, asking him to “refuse surrender” on the basis that the ruling was unjust and oppressive.
According to court documents obtained by the Airdrie City View, Odale, 58, claimed the extradition would put her life in danger as the court documents show she “was a confidential police informant and fled the US because her life was in danger as a result of the information provided and the US was ‘unable and unwilling’ to protect her from harm from the persons she had informed on her abusive husband.”
Her husband, according to documents, is part of an “outlaw motorcycle gang,” and the source of Odale’s informant information.
Odale alleged the minister “erred in law by adopting a narrow or incorrect view of what was meant by police informant and placed too much emphasis on her failure to enter into a formal agreement with the US law enforcement.”
According to the court, Odale met with US law enforcement authorities in Houston Texas where she was “debriefed” and (it) was agreed that she cooperated and provided authorities with information.
Odale’s argument was defeated by the Alberta Court of Appeal based on the explanation that “(the court) does not see the scope of the protection afforded to be as broad as that suggested. The scope of the privilege does not extend to providing protection to guard or ensure the informant’s physical security forever and wherever.”
If convicted, Odale could face a minimum of 10 years in jail to a maximum of life in prison.
