JAILED KENT BACKPACKER RETURNS TO UK

BBC NEWS KENT

Fair Trials International (FTI), which campaigned for his return, said Malluzzo was jailed after a trial where he had poor representation, could not understand proceedings, and was given no opportunity to give evidence or call witnesses.

FTI chief executive Jago Russell said: "After seven years in an Indian prison, thousands of miles from home, we are delighted that Patrick has been transferred back to the UK.

"It is a travesty of justice that Patrick is coming home with a guilty conviction but, having visited him in Kota jail, I can easily understand his decision to abandon the fight for a fair trial in India so that he could come home."

Mr Russell said FTI abandoned a plan to take the case to the Indian Supreme Court last year because it would have meant Malluzzo spending another two years in prison there.

Instead, campaigners applied for him to be transferred to a UK prison.