Two men from Essex are facing extradition to the Island of Cyprus after their latest attempt to avoid serving time on the island has failed. Twenty-five-year-old Luke Atkinson and twenty-four-year-old Michael Binnington are cousins and both are facing the possibility of returning to Cypress to carry out jail sentences of three years each. The pair were involved in a crash that killed a moped rider whilst on holiday in 2006. Mr. Atkinson’s uncle, Julian Harrington was driving the rental car which killed the teenager when it hit his moped. He has already pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and manslaughter is currently serving a fifteen-year sentence on the Isle of Wight.

The cousins had originally been acquitted of the manslaughter charges after spending six months in prison on the island and were allowed to fly back to the U.K. However the Cyprus Supreme Court has since decided to overturn the decision and is appealing to have the pair return to Cyprus to carry out three-year sentences for manslaughter.

A U.K. judge has denied the cousin’s appeal and it is thought that the pair will be sent to Cypress within a few days. The pair’s lawyer, Karen Todner said that it was outrageous that anyone could have an acquittal overturned in such a manner and be ordered to serve a prison sentence.

Mr. Atkinson’s mother said that they planned to appeal to the European Court. MEP Richard Howitt has spoken out on the cousin’s behalf by saying that in his opinion there has been a miscarriage of justice. He said that European law was in place to protect both victims and defendants and that in this instance that does not appear to have been the case.