Matter of Discretion: The De Facto Abolition of the Mandatory Death Penalty in Barbados – A Study of the Boyce and Joseph Cases

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Procedural History and Factual Background of the BoyceJoseph Cases: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 R Using the Joseph and Boyce Cases to Examine the Vagary of Judicial Committee of Privy Council Decisions on the Constitutionality of the Mandatory Death Penalty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 R Boyce-Joseph Timeline and JCPC Deadlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 R The Caribbean Court of Justice Decision on Boyce and Joseph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 R Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 R