EXTRADITION proceedings against a Tyneside murder suspect are expected to begin in Spain today.

The Crown Prosecution Service is seeking the extradition of Lewis Ekong, 21, who was arrested by Spanish police in connection with the Millennium Day murder of Alan McQue.

Mr McQue, of Elswick, Newcastle, died after he was stabbed in the neck during a scuffle at the Chieftain pub, in Newcastle's Cruddas Park, on New Year's Day, last year. He died several days later in hospital.

Mr Ekong, who fled the country, was arrested last October on the Costa del Sol and transferred to a prison near the country's capital Madrid.

He is contesting proceedings to have him returned to the country.

Mr Ekong's photograph and description appeared on the BBC's Crimewatch UK.