Antigua and Barbuda - Senate approves removal of mandatory death sentence

Senate approves removal of mandatory death sentence. Parliament has given final approval to a bill that states that the individual can also be sentenced to life imprisonment or as the court considers appropriate. The Offence Against the Person Amendment Act was hotly debated when it went before Senate on Wednesday. Leader of Government Business Dr Errol Cort said while he remains a strong proponent of the death penalty, the laws on the statute books must be brought into conformity with decisions of the Privy Council and the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal. He said residents should be confident that judges will make decisions deemed to be fair and reasonable. Antigua and Barbuda last had hangings in 1988, 1989 and 1991.