001353
1O2.
With particular respect to the mandatory imposition of the death
sentence for murder, it is worth referring to the matter of Eversley Thompson
St. Vincent
& the Grenadines
v.
where the United Nations Human Rights
Committee was called to determine the Applicant's claim that the mandatory
nature of the imposition of the death sentence and its application in the
circumstances constituted an arbitrary deprivation of life. The Committee
concluded that "such a system of mandatory capital punishment deprives the
complainant of the most fundamental right, the right to life, without considering
whether this exceptional form
of
punishment
is
appropriate
in
the
circumstances of his or her cause'. The Committee consequenfly found that
the "carrying out the death penalty in the author's case would constitute an
arbitrary deprivation of his life in violation of Article 6, paragraph 1, of the
Covenant" because it did not take into account the particular situation of the
offender.26
103.
The Court also notes that, in interpreting Article 4 of the American
Convention on Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has
put greater emphasis on due process by holding in the matter of Hilaire,
Constantine & Benjamin v. Trinidad & Tobago that some limitations apply to
states that have not abolished the death penalty. These limitations include that
"... application is subject to certain procedural requirements" to be stricfly
observed", and "... certain considerations involving the person of the defendant
...".27 The Court concluded
that by "automatically and generically mandating
the death penalty for murder, the Respondent's law is arbitrary in terms of
Article 4(1) of the American Convention.2s
1O4.
From the foregoing, this Court finds that whether deprivation of life is
arbitrary within the meaning of Article 4 of the charter should be assessed
26
See Article 6(2), ICCPR; and Eversley Thompson v. St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Comm. No.
806/1998, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C70IO/806/1998 (2000) (U.N.H.C.R.), 8.2.
27 Hilaire,
constantine & Benjamin v. Trinidad & Tobago, tnter-Am. ct. H.R. (ser. c) No. 94 (June 21,
100.
See also Boyce &Joseph v. Barbados, tnter-Am. Ct. H.R. (ser. C) No. 169 (Nov.20,
S
?00?),
2007).
28
Hilaire, Constantine & Benjamin v. Trinidad & fobago, S 103
29
&