EU Policy On The Death Penalty

 

 

 

Washington, DC, 26 March 2001

 

Nevada Board of Pardons Members:

Governor Kenny Guinn
Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa
Chief Justice William Maupin
Justice Deborah Agosti
Justice Nancy Becker
Justice Myron Leavitt
Justice Robert Rose
Justice Miriam Shearing
Justice Cliff Young
Via: Susan McCurdy
Executive Secretary

Nevada Board of Pardons
1445 Hot Springs Road, #108-B
Carson City, NV 89711

 

Dear Members of the Nevada Board of Pardons,

The European Union has learnt that Mr. Thomas Nevius, who was sentenced to death in Nevada in 1982, will receive a clemency hearing on 11 April 2001. Representing the European Union, Sweden, as the current President, together with Belgium, the subsequent President, and the European Commission, would like to make an urgent humanitarian appeal on behalf of Mr. Nevius.

As stated in the EU Memorandum on the Death Penalty (which can be found on the web page http://www.eurunion.org/legislat/DeathPenalty/eumemorandum.htm), the European Union is opposed to the death penalty in all cases and accordingly aims at its universal abolition. In countries applying the death penalty, the EU seeks to ensure that the executions are carried out in accordance with the minimum standards set forth in several international human rights instruments.

European Union has taken note that Mr. Nevius has been diagnosed as being mentally retarded, with tests placing his IQ at between 57 and 68. The execution of Mr. Nevius would be in contradiction to the United Nations ECOSOC Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the Rights of those Facing the Death Penalty, as well as resolution 2000/65 adopted at the last session of the United Nations Commission on Human

Rights. This resolution specifically urges all states still maintaining the death penalty "not to impose the death penalty on a person suffering from any form of mental disorder or to execute any such person."

Taking these considerations into account, the European Union respectfully appeals to you, Members of the Nevada Board of Pardon, to exercise all powers invested in your office to commute the sentence of Mr. Nevius to life imprisonment or such other penalty as is compatible with international law.

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Embassy of Sweden,
1501 M Street, N.W.,
Washington DC 20005
tel: (202) 467-2600, fax: (202) 467-2699
Homepage: www.swedenemb.org