TNAG-0722-FCO40-920-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 88

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Secretary of State

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CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES : THE OUTSTANDING CASES

241

1.

I attach a chart setting out the position on

outstanding Capital Cases in the Dependent Overseas Territories. I have asked the Department to ensure that we are quickly informed of any significant developments and they will also be up-dating the table at monthly intervals.

2.

The case most likely to come to a head at an early date is that of Sylvester Gaston in the British Virgin Islands. The psychiatrists have formed the view that he is mentally sub-normal and this combined with the biased attitude taken by the jury give grounds for hoping that the sentence will be commuted locally. The Governor is fully aware of our views on the desirability of handling the case in this way.

However,

if in spite of all this the case is referred to you then I understand that it would be entirely open to you under the Creech-Jones Doctrine to recommend that the sentence should be commuted in order to prevent a possible miscarriage of justice. It would, however, be clearly preferable if we could avoid getting

into this situation.

нка 386

RECEIVED I REGISTRY NO. 51

- 5 JUN 1978

ASK OFFLER

No

Mama Marke

22/51

ĮREGISTRY

Action Taken

&

T.R.

RESTRICTED

Ted Rowlands 23 May 1978

See (249)

See also 256.