TNAG-0722-FCO40-920-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 55

22/6/4

CONFIDENTIAL

Miesten

254

Mr Mclaren

Thankyou,

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Mr Murray

PS/Mr Rowlands

Rowd

22/6

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES : THE OUTSTANDING CASES

1. I submit the first monthly revision of the table setting out the position on current capital cases in the Dependent Overseas territories which was submitted by Mr Rowlands to the Secretary of State under cover of his minute of 23 May.

2. The main change is that the Governor of the British Virgin Islands has reported his intention to commute the death sentence on Sylvester Gaston (my submission of 14 June refers).

3.

In the Greenaway case in Montserrat the Governor anticipates that the appeal will be rejected and that the Executive Council (acting as a Mercy Committee) will advise against clemency. But he has told the PUS, in a letter of 26 May, that he would feel obliged to commute the sentence

on grounds of personal conscience".

4.

The only other changes in the list are that a date has been set for the Johnson trial in Bermuda to begin; and that a new case (in the Cayman Islands) has been added. This last is at present one of attempted murder but it will become a capital case if the victim dies.

20 June 1978

Private Secretary

PS/Lord Goronwy Roberts

Lekundu

R J T McLaren

Hong Kong & General Department

HKG 386

386/1

RECEIVED "

23 JUN 1978

DESK OFFISEN

Cc:

PS/Mr Luard

PS/PUS

Sir A Duff

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Hall

Mr Stratton o/r

INDEX

PA

Mr Rushford

Mr Stephen

No

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WIAD

M&CD

News Department

NO. 51

FASIS RY

Action Taken

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twykevozi

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bts Jub

CONFIDENTIAL

further revision