Cuba hands over US national

Cuba on Wednesday handed over to the United States an Interpol-sought American who had been avoiding justice in the neighboring Caribbean nation. The man, whose identity was not disclosed by Havana, was sought “for serious crimes committed there” and entered Cuba on October 28.

“This action is based on Cuba’s strict compliance with its international legal obligations and existing bilateral agreements with the United States on compliance and enforcement, and the cooperation that both governments are developing on this front,” a Cuban statement said.

A statement from the Essex County prosecutor’s office in New Jersey, delivered to AFP, identified the man as James Ray III, 55, who was wanted on murder charges involving his partner Angela Bledsoe, 44. He returned to New Jersey late Tuesday.