163
GPS 198
IMMEDIATE
HER CAT A
FN HAMILTON 271700Z
CONFIDENTIAL
нка 3861
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
2 8 OCT 1977
DESK OFFICER
IDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Takon
CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
No
صبح
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELEGRAM PERSONAL NUMBER 33 OF 27 OCTOBER 1977.
MIP T: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,
THE MAIN POINTS ABOUT BURROWS AND TACKLYN MADE IN APRIL BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WERE THAT:
(A)
(B)
BOTH HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF COLD-BLOODED AND BRUTAL MURDERS:
MOST BERMUDIANS AGREE WITH THE CHIEF JUSTICE'S OPINION (EXPRESSED IN HIS REPORT), THAT THERE ARE NO EXTENUATING FACTORS WHATEVER:
(C) THE FACT THAT NOBODY HAS BEEN HANGED IN BERMUDA SINCE 1943 DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE DEATH PENALTY HAS ALREADY BEEN ABANDONED MOST LOCAL MURDERS HAVE RESULTED FROM CRIMES OF PASSION, SO THERE WERE ALWAYS MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES:
(D) THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY DECIDED ON ITS RETENTION IN MID-1975, BY A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY AFTER A THOROUGH REVIEW:
(E) DE FACTO LAST TWO WORDS UNDERLINED JABOLITION WILL HOWEVER, RESULT IF THE PREROGATIVE IS EXERCISED IN THESE CASES, SINCE WORSE ONES ARE DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE:
(F) ITS EXERCISE CANNOT THEREFORE BE JUSTIFIED, FOR THERE IS NO REASON TO SUPPOSE THAT THE HOUSE'S DECISION DOES NOT STILL REFLECT MAJORITY OPINION.
RAMSBOTHAM
FILES
HK&GD PS
PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF MR CORTAZZI MR MURRAY
COPIES TO:
SIR J SINCLAIR LEGAL ADVISERS
CONFIDENTIAL