as April 1973 that there had been no change in the attitudes of
the Legislatures concerned. As the decision to abolish capital
punishment in the United Kingdom was taken on a free vote in
Parliament, (and the penalty is still retained on the Isle of
Man and the Channel Islands), it would be illogical in Dependent
Territories in which there is an elected legislature to override
local opinion on the retention of capital punishment.
12. Following a conviction for murder in a Dependent Territory
which retains the death penalty the Governor is required to
consider whether or not to exercise his delegated Prerogative of
Mercy only after all the judicial appeal procedures have been
exhausted.
Gibraltar & General Department
4 March 1974