CJ de Mooi extradition bid abandoned after Dutch authorities admit Eggheads star’s arrest warrant had ‘basic errors’
DUTCH officials have abandoned efforts to extradite Eggheads star CJ de Mooi - who was wanted for questioning about an alleged murder in Amsterdam almost 30-years-ago.
Joseph Connagh - known as CJ de Mooi - faced extradition to the Netherlands for questioning over claims made in his autobiography that he may have killed a knife-wielding mugger when he was living on the streets of Amsterdam in 1988.
In his autobiography the quiz show star wrote: "I was in a phone box and this old guy, obviously a massive drug user, came up behind me with a knife in his hand.
"He told me to turn around, open my bag and give him whatever was inside.
"I punched him so hard in the face, knocked the knife out of his hand and threw him in the canal.
"I fully suspect I killed him. I've no idea what happened to him."
De Mooi also said it was "the one incident of my life I do regret", adding it was "one of the main reasons why I abhor all violence".
On the basis of the autobiography a European Arrest Warrant was issued by Dutch officials wanting to quiz the star about allegations of murder, manslaughter, assault and assault by battery, earlier this year.
Today a court heard that the warrant should never have been issued in the absence of a domestic warrant and that basic errors had been made.
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District Judge Khalid Qureshi dismissed the warrant at the request of Mr de Mooi's legal representative.
The judge described the case as "dodgy" and said: "This is a classic case where in the absence of a domestic warrant an EAW should not have been issued.
"In the circumstances in the absence of a domestic warrant and the absence of any decision to charge, I dismiss the European Arrest Warrant in the name of Joseph Connagh."
The court had heard that the former model was willing to answer questions in the UK and the judge said there was nothing to prevent the Dutch authorities from reissuing the arrest warrant.
A £5,000 security for bail will be returned to the TV star.
Mr de Mooi, who lives with his husband in Monmouthshire, was not in court as he was excused from attending.
The Eggheads star was arrested at Heathrow Airport last month and spent a night in custody before appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, where he vowed to fight extradition.
CJ had previously pleaded his innocence to pals, telling them “there is no case to answer”.
It emerged in September that officials wanted to quiz CJ about 12 dead bodies pulled out of Amsterdam canals as prosecutors believed he could have killed one of them.
The 12 bodies were found over the course of an entire year but cops want to speak to him about the incident mentioned in his autobiography.
The judge did today urge the quiz star to cooperate with police if asked.
The former president of the English Chess Federation grew up in a violent, racist and homophobic household in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, before running away in 1987.
He worked as a prostitute in London throughout his late teens before moving to Amsterdam, where he lived on the streets.
Mr De Mooi was eventually spotted by a model scout and found a successful career that turned his life around.
He adopted the name De Mooi when modelling, as it translates as "handsome" in Dutch.
This was the second time the 46-year-old has faced charges throughout his showbiz career.
Earlier this year he was probed by police on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 23-year-old man.
He said he was barred from appearing on Eggheads while police probed the incident.
Mr De Mooi denied the claims and was never charged.
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