XN000022-1992-11-11 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1992

BILL TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY INTRODUCED

* *

THE CRIMES (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL 1992 CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FROM THE STATUTE BOOKS WAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

PROPOSING ΤΟ INTRODUCED INTO

REMOVE THE

UNDER

ONCE THE BILL BECOMES LAW, ALL THOSE WHO ARE THEN SENTENCE OF DEATH WILL HAVE THEIR SENTENCES COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.

CURRENTLY THERE ARE 32 PRISONERS WHO FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE

BILL, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR IAN STRACHAN, EXPLAINED THAT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AT PRESENT THE MANDATORY PENALTY FOR MURDER, TREASON AND PIRACY VIOLENCE.

WAS WITH

THE DEATH PENALTY MAY ALSO BE IMPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL UNDER THE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS, HE ADDED.

MR STRACHAN SAID THE BILL SOUGHT TO MAKE ALL THE ADJUSTMENTS TO LEGISLATION NECESSARY TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY.

IN ITS PLACE, IT IS PROPOSED THAT LIFE IMPRISONMENT SHOULD BE THE MANDATORY SENTENCE FOR MURDER, TREASON AND PIRACY WITH VIOLENCE.

ALSO MANDATORY LIFE IMPRISONMENT IS PROPOSED TO BE THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE THAT MAY BE PROVIDED FOR BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL UNDER THE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS.

IN CASES WHERE A SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT IS IMPOSED, THE GOVERNOR WILL CALL ON THE TRIAL JUDGE TO GIVE HIM A WRITTEN REPORT INDICATING ANY SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS OR MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, WHAT IN HIS VIEW SHOULD BE THE MINIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT TO BE SERVED.

HE SAID THIS WAS CURRENTLY THE PRACTICE WITH REGARD TO SENTENCES OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

THE BOARD OF REVIEW WILL REVIEW LIFE SENTENCES INITIALLY AFTER FIVE YEARS AND SUBSEQUENTLY EVERY TWO YEARS, UNLESS THE GOVERNOR DIRECTS THAT A CASE SHOULD BE REVIEWED EARLIER AFTER HAVING CONSIDERED THE TRIAL JUDGE'S REPORT.

ON JUNE 26 LAST YEAR, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL VOTED IN FAVOUR OF THE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATIVE MEASURES WHICH WOULD ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY AND REPLACE IT WITH LIFE IMPRISONMENT.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

0

/20