TNAG-0931-FCO40-1149-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 119

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Volinie 991

No 233

LILLS

Reference

Colonies (Death Penalty)

Mr. Marks asked the Lord Privy Seal in which British colonies the death pen- alty for murderers is still in force; how many people are awaiting sentence or trial in each colony; and what are the

powers of the British Government and Privy Council in these cases.

Mr. Blaker: The information is as follows:

(a) Belize

Bermuda

British Virgin Islands

Cayman Islands

Hong Kong

Montserrat

Turks and Caicos Islands

(b) In Belize three men have been sentenced to death for murder and a fourth has been similarly sentenced on second re-trial. Appeal is pending in all four cases. Three men in the British Virgin Islands and one in the Turks and Caicos Islands are held for trial on capital charges.

(c) The exercise of the Crown's prerogative of mercy is delegated to governors, although Her Majesty has a residual power, on the advice of Her Majesty's Government, to exercise the prerogative of mercy. When there has been an appeal to the local court of appeal in a capital case in a dependent territory, a further appeal lies to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. However, this can only be done with special leave, as the committee is not a court of criminal appeal.