Michelle Williams' Dad Avoids Extradition To US

Actress Michelle Williams' father has won the right not to be extradited from Australia to the US on tax evasion charges.

Larry Williams, 64 - a resident of the Virgin Islands - was arrested in Sydney in May (2007), accused by America's IRS (Internal Revenue Service) of avoiding paying more than $1.5 million in tax between 1999 and 2001.

After losing an initial battle to avoid an extradition hearing last year (2006), Williams today convinced a full bench of the Federal Court in Sydney that the notice issued authorising a magistrate to rule on his extradition was invalid.

Williams has been on $800,000 bail since his arrest. Government lawyers are today expected to seek to keep him on bail while they consider appealing the ruling.