PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL
203
HE Mr T Russell CBE CAYMAN ISLANDS
HKG 386/1
24 November 1977
RECEIVED
33. $1
25 NOV 1977
DESK OFFI
196
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
1.
INDEX
No
TRY ¡Action Taken
све
You will be aware from past correspondence resting with FCO circular telegram no Personal 76 to Belmopan that the subject of abolishing the death penalty in dependent territories has been under consideration in London. You may also be aware that this discussion was taking place at a time when two murderers were under sentence of death in Bermuda.
2. The Cabinet Committee, who have been considering this problem, concluded that it would be wrong to change the "Creech- Jones" doctrine at a time when a particular case was under consideration, lest it be thought that the policy was being changed simply for the purpose of being able to intervene in that case. Accordingly, the Secretary of State was not able to intervene in the Bermuda case. Even when he was asked to advise on a Petition to The Queen on behalf of the condemned men, having satisfied himself that there had been no miscarriage of justice, he was left with no alternative but to recommend that Her Majesty should not accept the petition, and that the law should be allowed to take its course.
3. Ministers did, however, agree on the desirability of an eventual change in the present policy and we hope to return to the subject at a time when there are no cases pending. Since there is a case coming up in the British Virgin Islands that could lead to a confirmed death sentence, it may be some months before anything more happens.
cc: Sir Peter Ramsbotham
(for information)
J A B Stewart
Hong Kong & General Department
PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAT.
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