Thomas v Baptiste

Subject Matter

CONSTITUTION — Trinidad and Tobago — Constitution — Human rights and fundamental freedoms — Individual's right not to be deprived of life except by “due process of law” — Execution of death penalty for murder — Government ratifying international convention permitting access to international bodies — Government issuing instructions prescribing time limits for applications to international bodies — Whether instructions lawful — Whether carrying out death sentences before determination of international body infringing constitutional right to due process — Whether legitimate expectation not to be executed before petitions finally determined — Whether delay rendering carrying out of death sentence unconstitutional — Whether prison conditions constituting cruel and unusual treatment — Judge in constitutional proceedings ordering death sentence to be vacated — Whether death sentence properly restored by appellate court — Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Act, Sch, ss 4(a), 5(2)(b), 14(1)(2)

[2000] 2 AC 1; [1999] 3 WLR 249