TNAG-0602-FCO40-750-Capital-punishment-in-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 116

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of a robbery. There is nothing in the evidence, nor from

later enquiries, to suggest that either prisoner could claim

diminished responsibility by reason of mental deficiency.

4. One of the prisoners, Erskine Durrant Burrows, was

previously convicted on 6 July 1976 of the murder of the former

Governor of Bermuda, Sir Richard Sharples, the Commissioner of

Police, Mr George Duckett, and the Aide de Camp, Captain Sayers.

This case has attracted much attention and there is strong local

feeling that the law should take its course.

5. It is also relevant that on 9 July 1975, in response to a

private member's motion to abolish capital punishment in Bermuda,

the House of Assembly there rejected the motion by 25 votes to 9.