Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said today that she will strip two local radio hosts of their citizenship and deport them to Britain immediately after a prank call that left an English nurse dead.
Mel Greig and Michael Christian, from Sydney's 2Day FM radio station, have faced a barrage of criticism in recent days after the victim of one their prank calls was found dead of an apparent suicide.
Jacintha Saldanha, a mother of two, had worked at the same hospital at which Kate Middleton was being treated and accidentally divulged sensitive medical information during a hoax in which Greig pretended to be the Queen Mother.
Saldanha's body was found this morning at the hospital in what police call a 'classic suicide' and social media has erupted with outrage against the two radio hosts for their role in her death.
Drawn and Quartered
Given the involvement of the Royal Family, the incident has rapidly become a source of diplomatic tension between London and Canberra. Prime Minister David Cameron has pressed for the duo's extradition to Britain to face charges, However the Australian constitution expressly forbids the extradition of Australian citizens to other Commonwealth nations.
In a press conference in Canberra, Gillard announced the two sides have found a compromise solution - stripping the pair of their citizenship:
"Mel and Michael do not represent the best of Australia. These two troglodytes can't put on a decent radio program without resorting to heartless, unfunny hoaxes on innocent everyday people."
"As an Australian I can say that we don't want them here any longer. And as Prime Minister, I am proud to say I can make that happen today."
Upon their arrival in London, the two are expected to be tried for wrongful death, phone harassment, and 'slaying-by-douchery' - an ancient English law that forbids someone from being such a terrible person it drives others to suicide.
If found guilty the pair face 5-10 years in prison. Once released they will not be allowed to return to Australia, and - since they will be stateless and without passports - will likely be forced to spend the rest of their days in England.
For Gillard, even that punishment isn't enough:
"I am personally recommending to David that he bring back the stocks and put Mel and Michael in the public square for all to see."
