Appeals Court To Decide R.I. Custody Battle

A federal appeals court in Boston is set to hear arguments in a possible death penalty case against a Rhode Island murder suspect at the center of a custody battle involving Gov. Lincoln Chafee.

The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston is scheduled to hear arguments in the case of Jason Pleau on Thursday. Defense attorneys, prosecutors and lawyers for Chafee will make their case to the panel. Chafee has filed an amicus brief in the matter.

The 33-year-old Pleau is fighting efforts by federal prosecutors to take him into their custody for trial on allegations that he shot a man outside a bank last September.

Chafee last month refused to surrender Pleau. He says the federal government does not have the authority to circumvent his decision.