PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 15/003/2005

08 June 2005

Further Information on UA 268/04 (AMR 15/001/2004, 20 September 2004) - Imminent Execution

BARBADOS Lennox Ricardo Boyce (m)

Jeffrey Joseph (m)

Amnesty International has learned that Lennox Boyce and Jeffrey Joseph have had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment by the Barbados Court of Appeal.

The Court ruled that the men's legal appeals could not be completed within the time limit stipulated by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. In the case of Pratt and Morgan, the Privy Council had ruled in November 1993 that it was unconstitutional to execute prisoners after five years under a sentence of death. Boyce and Joseph had been under a sentence of death for four years and four months.

Many thanks to all who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the Urgent Action network.