Afghan accused of murdering a girl must be sent back to Austria for trial

An Afghan man accused of drugging, raping and strangling a 13-year-old girl has been recalled to Austria for trial following his arrest in the UK.

Rasuili Zubaidullah, 23, is accused of killing teenager Leonie Walner after meeting her in an entertainment district along the Danube Canal in Vienna on June 25 last year.

Her body was found the next day rolled up in a carpet in the city.

The victim is said to have been taken to the apartment where the crimes were committed.

Zubaidullah was arrested in the UK last July following a tip-off from Austrian police after he applied for asylum upon arriving by boat across the Channel.

When he appeared in custody at Wandsworth Prison in south London for a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, he was told that his application to stay in the UK had been rejected and that he would have to return to Austria to face trial there.

Zubaidullah boarded a boat full of refugees and applied for asylum in the UK weeks after the victim was found dead.

He is said to have given a false name to authorities in Kent on July 18 last year after his successful Channel crossing.

He lived in a hostel in Whitechapel, east London, for two weeks before Austrian police informed British authorities.

Officers from the National Extradition Unit arrested him on July 29 last year.

It was initially believed that Zubaidullah had made his way to Italy before it emerged that he had come to Britain.

Read more:

‘Toxic’ woman created 30 fake profiles to get innocent ex-boyfriend arrested

10-year-old schoolgirl dies in house fire, her father locks her in the bathroom

Dashcam captures the terrifying moment a truck bursts into flames in a fatal crash

Prosecutor Jonathan Swain said at an earlier hearing: “This case relates to an arrest warrant issued by the Austrian authorities on 29 July this year.”

“This was confirmed a day later by the National Crime Agency.

“Zubaidullah is suspected of having committed two criminal offences on 25 and 26 June last year, described as intentional collusion with three named individuals.

“He used violence against the alleged victim and forced her to have and consent to sexual intercourse.

“He gave her seven ecstasy pills before having vaginal intercourse with her.

“It is said that the victim was grabbed and strangled until he could no longer breathe and suffocated, and that is how he eventually died.

“The second charge relates to the fact that he had sex with her when she was under 14 years old.”

Zubaidullah’s lawyer Ben Keith objected to the extradition under section 12A of the Extradition Act 2003 on the grounds that the Austrian authorities had not yet decided whether to bring charges against Zubiadullah.

District Judge Michael Snow told him: “I am afraid I will have to reject your appeals. As a result, you must return to Austria to face trial on these charges.”

Zubaidullah spoke only to confirm that he had understood the negotiations translated to him by a Farsi interpreter. He was remanded in custody.

He has seven days to appeal the verdict. If he does not do so, he will be sent back to Austria within 17 days.

See the latest news on Yahoo News UK