TNAG-0723-FCO40-921-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 11

CONFIDENTIAL

COVERING

SECRET

3 -

Flag E Details of this case are given in a separate note. We had Atached hitherto assumed that the convicted man's mental condition

was such that the Governor would not find it difficult to

reprieve. The Governor now refers to the possibility that he "may be unable to justify a reprieve in the Johnson case if his psychiatric condition is not found to be abnormal".

In these circumstances, we should, I think, suggest to the Governor that if he needs a second psychiatric opinion and finds difficulty in obtaining one locally, we would be prepared to explore the possibility of sending someone out from the UK (as we did in the Gaston case). The Premier of

Bermuda thought this might be useful when Mr Cortazzi

mentioned the idea to him in June.

Sta (298

6. I recommend that a reply should be sent to the Governor

on the lines of the attached draft. WIAD and the department's

Legal Adviser agree.

30 November 1978

выбри

RJT McLaren

Hong Kong and General Department

CC:

75/12. Kolauls

PS/PUS

Mr Stephen

Sir A Duff

Mr Rushford, Legal Advisers

Mr Duff, WIAD

I agree.

I find the arguments in paragraphs 4 and 5 of

Mr McLaren's submission compelling.

CONFIDENTIAL

30 November, 1978

COVERING SECRET

Lihtn

R J Stratton

To irove / xii

Ste