EU Policy On The Death Penalty

 

 

 

EU Presidency

EMBASSY OF GREECE
Washington, DC

31 January 2003

Chairman Gerald Garrett
Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
Executive Clemency Section
PO Box 13401
Capital Section
Austin, TX 78711 

Dear Chairman Garrett, 

On behalf of the European Union, Greece as its current president, together with Italy, its subsequent president, and the European Commission, we would like to convey to you un urgent humanitarian appeal to spare the life of John (Jackie) Elliott who has been sentenced to death and is scheduled to be executed on February 4, 2003.  

As stated in the EU Memorandum on the Death Penalty (http://www.eurunion.org/legislat/DeathPenalty/eumemorandum.htm), which has been shared with you, the European Union is opposed to the death penalty in all cases and accordingly aims at its universal abolition, seeking a global moratorium on the death penalty as a first step.

Where the death penalty is retained, we urge states to observe minimum standards, which include imposing capital punishment only where the guilt of the person charged is based upon clear and convincing evidence leaving no room for an alternative explanation of the facts; furthermore, a death sentence should not be carried out where an individual complaint is being considered under international procedures. We understand that John (Jackie) Elliott has made an application for new DNA testing to be carried out in his case which may cast some doubt on the safety of his original conviction, and we have also learnt that he has made an application to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which has not yet been decided. 

We therefore respectfully urge you, Mr. Chairman, and your fellow board members to take all the aforementioned factors into account and to exercise all powers vested in your office to commute Mr. Elliott’s sentence to any penalty other than capital punishment in accordance with international law.

Sincerely,

Letter to Texas Governor Perry

---

Embassy of Greece
2221 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 939-5800 Fax (202) 939-5824
E-mail: greece@greekembassy.org
Website: http://www.greekembassy.org/Embassy/content/en/Root.aspx