FEATURED POST

Biden Has 65 Days Left in Office. Here’s What He Can Do on Criminal Justice.

Image
Judicial appointments and the death penalty are among areas where a lame-duck administration can still leave a mark. Donald Trump’s second presidential term will begin on Jan. 20, bringing with it promises to dramatically reshape many aspects of the criminal justice system. The U.S. Senate — with its authority over confirming judicial nominees — will also shift from Democratic to Republican control.

Judicial review into Bali Nine pair 'would not stop executions': Attorney-General

A judicial review into the condemned Bali Nine members filed on Friday would not stop executions proceeding, according to a spokesman for Indonesian Attorney-General H.M Prasetyo.

Tony Spontana accused lawyers for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran of trying to delay the executions by filing out an application for a case review, known as a PK.

"Since the norm is that the PK will not stop the execution we hope that the judges in the Denpasar District Court will reject it," he told a press conference.

Mr Spontana said a meeting on January 9 attended by representatives from the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and other agencies had agreed that there could only be one judicial review of a case.

No decision had been made on who would be included in the second round of executions of felons in Indonesia this year.

It had also not been finalised where or when they would be held.

However Mr Spontana said two Australians were among 11 convicts who had lost their clemency pleas and would face the firing squad.

Chan and Sukumaran had their clemency pleas rejected by Indonesian President Joko Widodo earlier this month.

Mr Spontana said the Attorney-General's office was still evaluating the first round of executions, in which six drug felons - five of whom were foreigners - were shot dead on January 18.

He said problems had included delays in the timing of the executions and the convicts changing their last wishes, such as where they wanted to be buried and their religion.

The Melbourne lawyer for chan and Sukumaran, Julian McMahon, said the focus of the judicial review, which had been filed in the courts, was on rehabilitation.

"The matter is now before the courts according to the rule of law which is a very important thing to understand," he said.

"My clients have now been in jail for 10 years and slowly with the help of the Indonesian jail system their lives have been turned around and improved greatly.

"They are a wonderful example of what can happen in the jail system. Obviously there is no advantage to anybody in executing reformed prisoners."

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, January 30, 2015

Report an error, an omission: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com

Most Viewed (Last 7 Days)

Biden Has 65 Days Left in Office. Here’s What He Can Do on Criminal Justice.

Saudi Arabia executed more than 100 foreigners in 2024: AFP tally

To U.S. Death Row Inmates, Today's Election is a Matter of Life or Death

Trial Judge Declares Melissa Lucio to be ​“Actually Innocent,” Recommends Texas CCA Overturn Conviction and Death Sentence

Iran | Group Hanging of 10 Including a Woman in Ghezel Hesar Prison; Protest Outside Prison Violently Crushed

Singapore | Imminent unlawful execution for drug trafficking

Mary Jane Veloso to return to Philippines after 14-year imprisonment in Indonesia

USA | Pro-Trump prison warden asks Biden to commute all death sentences before leaving