Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife ( May 26/00) - Walter Lothar Ebke, 46, who is wanted by German authorities related to terrorist allegations, appeared in Yellowknife Supreme Court for the second time yesterday.

A date for a bail hearing was set for June 8 and 9 in Yellowknife and Ebke was remanded back into custody until then.

Ebke first appeared May 18, since under the Canadian Extradition Act it is mandatory for the accused to appear before Supreme Court within 24 hours of an arrest.

He was arrested at his home, the Back Bay Boat Bed and Breakfast, in Old Town the day before without incident by Yellowknife RCMP.

Ebke is being sought by German federal authorities in connection to bombings carried out by a terrorist group called the Revolutionary Cells between 1985 and 1993. He said in a previous interview with Yellowknifer that he first came to Yellowknife on a canoeing trip in 1984.

He appeared somewhat nervous and very attentive to the discussion taking place in court yesterday. He wore the same yellow shirt he had on during his court appearance last week.

Justice J.E. Richard opened the proceedings yesterday by saying, "I notice the court is compelled under the Extradition Act to set an early date for an extradition hearing."

The court has 75 days from the time he was arrested for a hearing to be set under the act.

But Ebke's defence co-counsel Paul Smith expressed concern, claiming there has been no disclosure made by German authorities for the necessary documents needed for a hearing. They have 45 days to disclose information from the time of the arrest.

Justice Richard also expressed concern over being able to fit the extradition hearing into the Supreme Court schedule within the specified time after both counsels suggested the extradition hearing be set at the time of the bail hearing.

An extradition hearing is likely to occur sometime in July.