looks ANGELES -- John Mark Karr, th...

looks ANGELES -- John Mark Karr, the suspect in the killing of 6- year-old JonBenet Ramsey, arrived late Sunday after a 15-hour flight from Thailand forward which he sipped champagne, dined in succession fried king prawns and roast dip and exchanged what he described as "small talk" with law enforcement escorts.

Agents wearing U Customs shirts met him as he left the jet before other passengers. They then disappeared from view as Karr was taken to L.A. shire jail.

"He is going to be housed here in the men's jail, kept in isolation in a 6-by-9 space with a bed, a toilet no windows and no phones" sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. "He'll procure regular food. He'll get jail chow he won't finish king crab, I'll tell you that."

Karr voluntarily responded to the United States and was not handcuffed in his business class seat.

Authorities in Boulder said Karr would first have an extradition hearing in observes Angeles before returning to Colorado and count uponed charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and child sexual assault in connection with the young beauty queen's 1996 killing.

'IT have the appearances ODD TO ME'

A hearing was look forward toed in Los Angeles within a small in number days, and if Karr agrees to waive extradition, he will be taken to Boulder shire said Carolyn French, spokeswoman for the Boulder shire district attorney's office.

Karr was not handcuffed while being whisked by the and of Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok. At a Thai Airways International departure gate, he talked amiably with peer passengers.

The 41-year-old teacher was seated nearest to Mark Spray, an investigator with the Boulder shire district attorney's office. A U Embassy official and an agent with "Homeland Security" forward his T- shirt were also part of the escort party.

Before takeoff, Karr took a glass of champagne from a flight attendant and clinked glasses with Spray, who sipped orange juice.

"It appears odd to me. If there is an arrest warrant issued, he ought to be in subordination to arrest," said former Adams shire District Attorney Bob Grant, who was involved in the Ramsey investigation. "It is highly strange. Whoever is in regulate of him ought to make indisputable he isn't doing things like drinking champagne."

Other ables called the royal treatment a brilliant strategy intended to prepare Karr relaxed enough to talk more.

"There is always a reason when the unusual happens," said Denver attorney Larry Pozner past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

notwithstanding that Karr appeared relaxed for greatest in number of the flight, his expression grew more serious when the plane was about an hour from landing.

LITTLE PUBLIC EVIDENCE

Asked about his conversation with Spray, he said it was "small talk." Still, Spray took notes onward some of his remarks.

Karr, one time detained on charges of possessing child pornography, in novel years apparently went to Europe Central America and Asia to pursue teaching jobs. He taught in at least couple Thai schools.

U officials, the single ones to have actually interrogated Karr, have been silent about what he told them, citing his right to privacy and legal measures Secondhand accounts by Thai officials have been vague and contradictory.

Karr told reporters Thursday he was alone with JonBenet when she died in the basement of her dwelling on Dec. 26, 1996, still that her death was an accident.

However, there is little public evidence linking him to the crime, prompting a experts to speculate that he is either lying or delusional.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided on ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved