TNAG-0601-FCO40-749-Capital-punishment-in-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 39

hudgemper

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Murray

HKG 38671

2.51

1 1 NOV 1977

RECE

PM/77/114

DESK Ü. .

PRIME MINISTERNDEX

Yes

NEGISTRY

Action Taken

Wall &

ce Ps

PE/PUS Mr Cortag3! Mistration

Mr Rush ord Mr Freeland Mr Duff

Mr Stephen

Capital Punishment in the Dependent

Overseas Territories

HUGD I

enter

ави

1. At the conclusion of the GEN 103 on 13 October, I was asked to review the Papers on the Bermuda case in the light of our discussions.

2.

I asked the Governor to review the case, to see whether grounds existed for him to reverse the decision made by the Acting Governor in April. The Governor has duly carried out this review, in consultation with his Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, taking into account a local petition for clemency signed by about 15% of the adult population of Bermuda. He has concluded that he must confirm the previous decision that the law should take its course.

3. Under the Creech-Jones doctrine I can only advise The Queen not to allow the law to take its course if I think there has been a miscarriage of justice. I am satisfied that there has been no such miscarriage in this case. I am therefore submitting the petition to The Queen with advice that it

should be rejected and that the law should be allowed to take

its course.

4.

I am sending copies of this minute to the members of

GEN.103.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

1ALO,

(DAVID OWEN)

7 November 1977

(174)

CONFIDENTIAL