Aman Vyas appears in court following extradition from India

Aman Vyas arrived at London Heathrow airport on Friday 4 October after a protracted battle to secure his extradition. Mr Vyas was initially arrest in 2011 while attempting to board a plane at Delhi airport following the circulation of an INTERPOL Red Notice. In September, the Delhi High Court dismissed his petition to challenge the December decision of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate to recommend his extradition to the UK to face 18 charges, including the rape murder of Michelle Samaraweera in Walthamstow on 30 May 2009.

Mr Vyas, an Indian national, was in attendance today for a first appearance hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in London. In addition to the charges in respect of Ms Samaraweera, Mr Vyas is facing 16 additional charges in respect of offences against three other women, including multiple counts of rape, five counts of assault, possession of a knife or bladed weapon in a public place, possession of an offensive weapon and one count of sexual assault.

The alleged offending took place between 24 March and 30 May 2009 at various locations across Walthamstow. At the time, Mr Vyas was resident in the UK on a student visa.  The Magistrates remanded Mr Vyas in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.