Federal prosecutors in the United States want to reopen an extradition hearing for George Exoo, a Unitarian minister wanted in Ireland for aiding and abetting the suicide of a woman in Dublin five years ago.
After hearing arguments from both sides in the case last month, a judge said he would decide in the coming weeks if Rev Exoo (65) should be extradited to Ireland, where he could face up to 14 years in prison if convicted of helping Rosemary Toole to end her own life.
Rev Exoo has been in a West Virginia jail since his arrest in June and US assistant attorney Philip Wright says that someone incarcerated with Rev Exoo has "relevant information" about the extradition request.
"Specifically, this person has informed the United States that Mr Exoo made incriminating admissions about his conduct in Ireland during the night that Ms Toole died, including admitting acts that would indicate Mr Exoo played a very active role in her death," Mr Wright wrote in a motion to reopen the hearing.
Rev Exoo has claimed that, although he was with Ms Toole when she died and offered advice on how to ensure that her suicide would be successful, he played no active part in her death.
Ireland's extradition treaty with the US covers only offences "punishable under the law of both contracting parties by imprisonment of more than one year". Assisting a suicide is not a crime in West Virginia or under US federal law but prosecutors argue that, if Rev Exoo's alleged actions are a felony in a majority of US states, he should be extradited.
Prosecutors wants the judge to hear evidence about "relevant and material admissions made by Mr Exoo to that witness, and possibly additional witnesses for corroboration".
Rev Exoo resigned from the Unitarian Universalist Association in November 2001 following a dispute over his activities as a "final exit counsellor", but remains an ordained minister.