TNAG-0723-FCO40-921-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 27

WHY WAS THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY ABLE TO

INTERVENE TO PREVENT AN EXECUTION TAKING PLACE IN THE

NAIRN CASE IN THE BAHAMAS IN 1969?

The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary did not intervene.

The decision to grant a reprieve was taken by the Governor,

in view of the delay that had taken place between the passing

of sentence and its being carried out.

DOES NOT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY RETAIN SOME

POWER TO INTERVENE IN CAPITAL CASES IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES?

Under the policy which has been followed by successive

British governments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary

does not intervene except to prevent a miscarriage of justice.

ARE ANY EXECUTIONS LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE IN THE DEPENDENT

TERRITORIES IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

There are a number of cases currently under consideration

in the dependent territories. At this stage it is not possible

to say whether or not these will eventually lead to executions.

HOW MANY DEPENDENT TERRITORIES RETAIN THE DEATH PENALTY?

Seven:

Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman

Islands, Hong Kong, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands.

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