Maduro taken to court

VENEZUELA'S deposed President Nicolas Maduro was yesterday set to make his first appearance in an American courtroom on the narco-terrorism charges United States President Donald Trump's administration have used to justify capturing him and bringing him to New York.

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Maduro and his wife were expected to appear before a judge yesterday for a brief, but required, legal proceeding that will likely kickoff a prolonged legal fight over whether he can be put on trial in the US. The couple were transported to a Manhattan courthouse under armed guard early yesterday from the Brooklyn jail where they have been detained.

The trip was swift. A motorcade carrying Maduro left the jail around 7.15am and made its way to a nearby sport field, where Maduro slowly made his way to a waiting helicopter. It flew across New York harbour and landed at a Manhattan heliport, where Maduro, limping, was loaded into an armoured vehicle.