Hungarian extradition hearing adjourned for man accused of murder in Hamilton

A court in Hungary has adjourned the extradition hearing for accused murderer Oliver Karafa in order to gather more information on his case from Canadian authorities.

The court ruled Friday that Karafa will be incarcerated in the meantime, according to an email sent to The Spectator from the media office at the Metropolitan Court in Budapest, and a new extradition trial date set after the court communicates with the Department of Justice in Ottawa.

Karafa, 29, and 25-year-old Yun (Lucy) Lu Li are charged with first-degree murder in connection with a double shooting in Hamilton on Feb. 28.

Li is in custody at a correctional facility in Milton with her next court date set for Aug. 24, but Karafa, who also has Slovakian citizenship, is fighting extradition. The court in Hungary has previously released a statement alleging that Karafa was the shooter.

The pair was captured in Budapest on June 12, after more than three months on the run from police.

In response to a request for comment from The Spectator, a media relations spokesperson with the Department of Justice said discussions with officials in Hungary are confidential until made public in court.

The shootings took place in a remote industrial area of Stoney Creek, behind a closed Arvin Avenue business. Tyler Pratt, 39, was killed, and his 26-year-old girlfriend injured. She was pregnant at the time, and lost the pregnancy as a result of her injuries. Hamilton police Det. Sgt. Jim Callender, of the major crime unit, told The Spectator that does not change the charges the pair face.

Jon Wells is a Hamilton-based reporter and feature writer for The Spectator. Reach him via email: jwells@thespec.com