a court in Rome is holding up a decision on whether to extradite...

a court in Rome is holding up a decision on whether to extradite an Italian wanted in connection with a triple homicide in Connecticut last year to examine the risk of a death penalty sentence in the case, a defense lawyer said Monday.
The court was seeking more information about whether Italian Benedetto Cipriani could face the death penalty if extradited, according to lawyer Filippo Misserville. The court started hearing the case on Dec. 9.
Cipriani is accused by Connecticut authorities of being the ringleader in a murder-for-hire plot that led to a triple homicide in a Windsor Locks, Conn. auto shop. He was arrested in Italy in April. If extradited, Cipriani could face trial on 3 counts of murder and 1 count of conspiracy, charges that Misserville said can carry the death penalty in Connecticut, but only if there are aggravating circumstances.
He said that the Rome court was trying to find out whether aggravating circumstances would be applied in the case. Under Italian law, suspects cannot be extradited if there is a risk of the death penalty, Misserville said.
Cipriani said he had nothing to do with the killings. Misserville said he expected a ruling on the case in February. He said he planned to appeal if the court orders Cipriani's extradition.