Bitcoin landfill case heads to human rights court

James Howells, a UK man seeking to recover a hard drive containing private keys to 8,000 Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC), has had his appeal rejected by the UK Court of Appeals.

The hard drive, discarded in a Newport landfill in 2013, holds access to Bitcoin valued at approximately $660 million at current prices.

On March 14, Howells announced via social media that his appeal to the Royal Court of Appeal was denied.

Judge Christopher Nugee ruled there was no “real prospect of success” and no compelling reason for the case to proceed.

This decision follows an earlier rejection by High Court Judge Andrew Keyser in January, who similarly dismissed Howells’ case as lacking realistic prospects.

Howells plans to file a claim with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that UK courts violated his rights under Article 1 of Protocol 1 (right to property) and Article 6 (right to a fair trial).

“The British establishment wants to sweep this under the carpet, and I will not let them,” he stated.

While the ECHR cannot overturn UK court decisions, a favorable ruling could prompt UK courts to reassess whether their interpretations align with human rights provisions.

Howells aims to submit his claim in the coming weeks.

The Newport City Council has repeatedly denied Howells permission to search the landfill site, citing environmental and logistical concerns.

Time is running out for him as the Docksway landfill is scheduled for closure during the UK’s 2025-2026 financial year.

As Bitcoin adoption grows, incidents like Howells’ highlight the importance of securing private keys and navigating evolving legal landscapes.

At the time of reporting, the Bitcoin (BTC) price was $83,427.79.