Free Murray: 'Lightning Lee' released from Moroccan prison and promptly re-arrested (Update)
by Jesse Holland on Jun 24, 2009 10:23 PM EDT
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Lee Murray, one-time UFC fighter and alleged mastermind behind one of the world's biggest bank heists, has been freed from a Moroccan prison after more than three years behind bars, according to ESPN.com.
Murray was released after judges in the Moroccan Supreme Court upheld his claim that he is a citizen of the North African nation. British prosecutors have been trying to extradite the ex-fighter, claiming he masterminded the largest bank raid in British history in 2006 -- he and six other associates allegedly stole more than $100 million.
He sought refuge from the Moroccan government because of his father being of Moroccan descent.
From Murray's attorney Derek Parker:
"I spoke to him last night and he didn't even know that he was going for a hearing on the extradition. It was a complete surprise. When he arrived to court, they told him, 'You're a Moroccan citizen. You can go. He has every intention of fighting again, but I don't think he'll be going back to the UK in our lifetime. And the U.S. isn't high on his list of vacation destinations either."
Murray defeated Jorge Rivera via first round submission (strikes) at UFC 46, which was his only appearance inside the Octagon. He is perhaps better known in the fight world for his exploits outside the cage, however, brawling with Tito Ortiz in a street fight following UFC 38 in July 2002.
Murray is 8-2 overall in mixed martial arts competition. He last fought in September of 2004 at Cage Rage 8, dropping a unanimous decision to current UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.
For more on the rise and fall of "Lightning" Lee Murray click here.
UPDATE: MMAFanHouse.com reports that Murray's freedom was short-lived -- he was promptly re-arrested after his release because "the British Authorities did put [in] a formal request to the Moroccan Authorities to have him tried in Morocco for the alleged robbery."
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BADASS!
p.s. just got back from transformers, pretty sick summer blockbuster
by Jared on Jun 24, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions
To Japan it is then. Good matchups include Misaki, Santiago, khalidov and …. damn. He’s gotta find a way into the states.
by NameNotRequired on Jun 24, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions
did he not beat rivera by traingle/ arm bar?
by ruanfiy on Jun 25, 2009 7:03 AM EDT up reply actions
he did indeed. and he KO’d pele and took anderson to a decision. had a lot of potential as a fighter. but WAY more potential at robbing the hell out of banks.
by Hardcase on Jun 25, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Ha ha, he was re-arrested. Hope he gets life and enjoys many an ass raping.
by SHORT_BUS on Jun 25, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
wow i didnt think i would see him back for longer than that. im glad hes out i enjoyed every one of his fights. i hope by intending to fight that means hes in shape and put on muscle in prison. i think if he really does get out though he should try and make a run fighting at welterweight
by butters on Jun 24, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions
Shows how corrupt Morocco is, what a disgrace. This guy is a thug and should be in prison for life the fact that the Moroccan government has allowed this criminal to walk free sickens me. The only place this guy is welcome in the UK is a prison cell. I’m ashamed to have this guy representing British MMA and the only place this guy will get a fight is in a third world country with underground circuits.
by David W-S on Jun 24, 2009 10:42 PM EDT reply actions
come one now, this guy pulled the biggest lick in UK history……plus, every one knows he was the mastermind behind the whole thing…….AND he got away with it…….i call that being pretty bad ass
by child on Jun 25, 2009 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Got away with it? I don’t know that whole story, but he was in prison! How did he get away with it?
by BOW on Jun 25, 2009 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions
he was in prison in morroco for drugs, but his money has gotten him out…….the money he stole
by child on Jun 25, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh, thanks child. Hes still scum though and I wouldnt buy any payper view he would be on!
by BOW on Jun 25, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
gimme a break bud. from pirates, to jesse james, bonnie and clyde, al capone, hell even ninjas were spies and assassins. Bandits and outlaws have always been romanticized. For this guy to be reasonably well known throughout the world for being a fighter before hand def makes this guy a romantic figure. This is aside from the fact that he A) has not been convicted B) will not be extradited C) got away with it
criminals shouldn’t be praised but the bottom line is, this guys is gonna go down in history and movies will be made cuz this is a damn good story.
by Crowls on Jun 25, 2009 2:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Well i’m on the side that he should be hated not revered.
In MOVIES bank robbers are cool, drug dealers are cool, gangsters are cool. In real life they are nasty, selfish, lazy, ruthless w*nkers who will happily ruin other peoples lives to better theirs.
This guy is not a hero, he is scum.
by Nick J on Jun 25, 2009 5:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Exactly, well put Nick J and BOW, anyone who romanticies a guy who masterminded a robbery that included the kidnapping and hostage taking of employees as well as the bank manager’s wife and child is an idiot. Anyone who would pay to watch this guy continue fighting after all of the horrible things that he has done is an even bigger idiot.
Thankfully the Moroccans have seen sense and rearrested him, the guy deserves to rot in a third world prison for the rest of his life.
by David W-S on Jun 25, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions
You know, MMA fans who worship this asshole need to fuck off. This guy and his associates held someones wife and kids hostage for this bank heist, threatening to kill them. That’s right, they threatened to kill little kids. Fuck him. I want to see him against Anderson Silva again, and then against Fedor.
by poorlytoldjoke on Jun 24, 2009 10:50 PM EDT reply actions
haha you said the same thing twice. and you stated bullshit twice. get your shit straight before trying to talk about him.
by AzCombat on Jun 25, 2009 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions
You might want to read about it. Start here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securitas_depot_robbery
Go to the second paragraph under Robbery.
Read it and absorb it. Lee Murray is a shitbag who planned the kidnapping of a child, and threatened his life. An 8 year old. Awesome. Some of you fuckers needed your dad to hug you more. Low rent thug morons.
by poorlytoldjoke on Jun 25, 2009 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions
convicted??? nope. he allegedly planned the kidnapping of a child and threatened his life.
In all seriousnous, the guy prob did do it. And if so, it’s pretty f’d up. Had he killed someone I would expect U.K. special forces to kidnap him from morocco and bring him back to stand trial or something but he’ll probly be a free man for quite some time. The good news however is that with him getting caught for drugs while hiding there shows that he’s a dipshit anyway and will probly travel to a country with an extradition treaty and get caught, or he’ll get killed cuz he’ll still be involved in drugs. Take a page from whitey bulger Lee, stay hidden.
by Crowls on Jun 25, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
the list of countries w/o extradition treaties with the UK is pretty low.
look for him to be fighting in M-1 Kenya. Soon!
by DirtyML on Jun 24, 2009 10:51 PM EDT reply actions
Wow. Good for him that he pulled the biggst bank heist in UK history, and is now a free man.
by Haze on Jun 24, 2009 10:52 PM EDT reply actions
this guy is a piss poor human being, and enjoying his fights doesn’t mean he’s anything but. He and his associates held a woman and a child hostage on threat of death for their heist. All of you fake thugs who think he’s awesome are little dipshits whose mom didn’t hug them enough. I want to watch Anderson Silva beat his ass again, and then feed him to Fedor.
by poorlytoldjoke on Jun 24, 2009 10:53 PM EDT reply actions
If he did that, i think they should rot him in jail or set him free by the age of 80.
by ryan on Jun 24, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions
What a crazy bastard. There should be a book on this guy. I’m disgusted and intrigued by this guy at the same time.
by kukuxumusu on Jun 24, 2009 11:19 PM EDT reply actions
SAME feelings!
But to go along with a book, a MOVIE!
by SoCalStunNa on Jun 24, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions
a movie would fucking rock! what a story
by Randy for Couture on Jun 25, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions
You gotta give credit where credit is due. He pulled off the biggest heist in uk history and still got away with 50 mil. He didnt hurt anyone. And he didnt hold anyone hostage. There wasnt even anyone there. They did it at night. I watched a whole documentary on it on the history channel. Get your facts right.
Id do 3 years in prison for 50 mil.
by terribleone on Jun 24, 2009 11:41 PM EDT reply actions
You might want to read about it again. Specifically this part.
As this was taking place, the manager’s wife and eight-year-old son were being held hostage at their home in Herne Bay, after they answered the door to men dressed in police uniforms, who falsely informed them that the manager had been involved in a road traffic accident. They were then driven to the farm at which the manager was being held, where he was told at gunpoint that failure to cooperate could put him and his family in danger.
Yeah, Lee Murray. Awesome. Kidnapping and threatening children. Give this guy Anderson again. Give him Rampage. Give him Wanderlei or Shogun. Give him Fedor. Give him someone who will bring him violence from the 1st second of the 1st round until he is bleeding out of his heart again. Fuck that guy, and fuck the twits who think that he did something cool MMA needs less kiddies who are wanna-be thugs.
and please, you’d do 3 years in prison for the anal rape, because it would save you the time of cruising the bars and Craigslists casual encounter section.
by poorlytoldjoke on Jun 25, 2009 3:06 AM EDT up reply actions
then youre a scumbag low-life piece of shit too, just like murray. did i mention that youre a scumbag? bottom of the barrell dude. got any morals? doubt it.
by The Judge on Jun 25, 2009 5:33 AM EDT up reply actions
So what you’re saying is, you’re rubber I’m glue? Yes. I have no morals because I think that kidnapping a child makes you a bad person. Interesting.
by poorlytoldjoke on Jun 25, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I presume he was talking about terrible one, anybody who looks up to a drug addicted bank robboing child kidnapping thug needs their head examined.
by David W-S on Jun 25, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Plus he kicked the shit out of tito ortiz in a back alley of a club. That alone puts him pretty high up on the list of people I look up to haha.
by terribleone on Jun 24, 2009 11:43 PM EDT reply actions
Yeah!!!!!!! Lee is back! F88k the haters!!!!!!!
by Pamirec on Jun 24, 2009 11:56 PM EDT reply actions
What a crazy story, problem is in a corrupt country you may be able to buy your way out of prison but you cant buy your safety. He will probably be concentrating on laying low and staying alive.
by paniczoo on Jun 25, 2009 12:15 AM EDT reply actions
they seriously need to make a movie about this guy
by AzCombat on Jun 25, 2009 12:44 AM EDT reply actions
lets just hope they dont ruinin it by making into a made fo tv movie.
WAR LEE . come fight in canada . MFC will have you.
by WutangSwordsman on Jun 25, 2009 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions
so they are making a movie it was announced in august 2008. hopefully its a good one.
by AzCombat on Jun 25, 2009 7:06 AM EDT up reply actions
He got caught with coke and atempted prison break and now they are letting him go? amazing. Let’s see if mania can get an interview.
by naturalist on Jun 25, 2009 12:46 AM EDT reply actions
i hope lee murray can open a new gym MMA which will be the first GYM MMA in Morocco, damn can’t wait that!There is no foking gym mma in morocco…
by karrim on Jun 25, 2009 4:33 AM EDT reply actions
lee murray did take anderson to a decision and no one in the ufc has done that yet he knocked tito out when he was lhw champ pulled off the biggest robbery here in uk. And if your gona steal 100 mill what do you want them to do say please they gota threaten somebody i dont think they would have killed the child even tho they were scum for threatening to. He will end up dead he has already been stabbed in london and now people think he has 50 mill if people think this shit is glamorous then watch THE RISE OF THE FOOT SOLDIER this tells the true story of the essex boys or THE BUISNESS and you might get what kind of mentality that these kind of people have and where they end up. He could have been a successful fighter with tons of cash but now every crim outthere thinks he has shitloads of cash and he would probly be safer here in english prison than anywhere else i had a cousin that had a wealthy father but he was big tough bastard who liked the gangster rep and he went to spain doing dodgy deals and never came back he was 28 years old CRIME DONT PAY and theres no excuse when you have other options like lee murray.If i was able to ko tito and take anderson to a decision i would definitely continue my mma career.
by hit you wi the knowledge on Jun 25, 2009 6:48 AM EDT reply actions
he is a fucking thug – BUT – If he were around today he would be world elite. There would be no Bisping. Shame really because Murray had that real attitude fighting brits have – i like Bisping, but he definatly does not represent british attitude how it really is.
I would love to just one more time see a Murray weigh-in. “your dead – fucking dead!!”
by Insain on Jun 25, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Well I just read this…
http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/25/lee-murray-re-arrested-on-92-million-bank-heist-charges-in-moro/
by arturo_caap on Jun 25, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions
Just read he’s been re-arrested, got anything on this mania?
Insain, you’re right, if Murray was still about there would be no Bisping!
by UKMMA on Jun 25, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions
i would kidnap a daycare center for 100 mill
by hddavidson on Jun 25, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions
haha. Your gonna get banished for that one with these guys.
And ya. He would probably be elite right now. The guy had alot of pure talent. And he did take Silva to a decision. Without pulling a leitis.
And he would dismantle Bisping. And I partially agree with being a quicker puncher than vitor for his weight. One of those rare natural fighters.
by terribleone on Jun 25, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
murray is a legend. the quickest puncher i have seen, quicker that vitor.
by outlaw fan on Jun 25, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions
Btw, no one who lost to Joe Doerkson could ever be considered an elite fighter. He was Chris Leben. Stnad in front of you and bang, and hits hard. What happened when Bisping fought Leben? He got picked apart for 3 rounds. If you watch the Silva fight, it’s not like his skill kept him alive for 3 rounds. His chin did. Even the biased cage rage commentators were talking about how battered Murray was.
by poorlytoldjoke on Jun 25, 2009 5:58 PM EDT reply actions
Lee Murray is a bit of a legend in southeast London, he’s beaten up some defenseless people in his time, most of who didn’t know they were arguing with an MMA fighter. From what I’ve heard he’s a bit twisted. The mans got kids of his own and I’m pretty certain he didn’t threaten the child or woman that was kidnapped.
The story is that the wife and child of the manager were taken away and the manager himself was threatened with they’re welfare rather than the child or wife directly. Some of the others involved in the robbery are cousins to friends Ii have and grew up in the same area, I don’t think it was like some movie scene where they shouted at the kid and stuck a gun in his face. The whole experience would have been frightening, I don’t argue that, but most people know nothing about the man and lets be honest here, a lot of money was stolen and no-one was killed or even close to being killed which is what I’d want if I was gonna rob someone. To say he’s a dirty rotten scum-bag lowlife sh*t is a bit strong, I’d say he’s probaby a bit mental but he’s ok if he likes you, like Mike Tyson, or a pit-bull.
by blackfoot on Jun 28, 2009 12:44 PM EDT reply actions
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