The Portuguese Presidency of European Union renewed...

The Portuguese Presidency of European Union renewed a humanitarian appeal to Governor James Gilmore on behalf of Douglas C. Thomas, who was only 17 years old when he committed the crime for which he was convicted to death penalty. The European Union urged the commutation of Douglas' sentence to life imprisonment, or other appropriate penalty. In the appeal the European Union also noted the view of the United Nations Human Rights Committee that the reservation made by the United States to Article 6 of the ICCPR, which expressly forbids the execution of people whose crime was committed when they were under 18 years of age, is incompatible with the object and purpose of that International Covenant and should, therefore, be withdrawn. Douglas C. Thomas was executed on January 10 at 9:00.