Has the death penalty for treason gone?

Question

Am i right in assuming that the EU removed the death penalty for treason in the united Kingdom. But no one was told.

I was using the question in reference to the people involved in the 7/7 attacks and other related attempts. We dont have 'felony' over here 'wiseman', ironic name. We did have the treason law but i believe believe the EU removed it and somehow managed to keep it out the media. Do you think that the people behind the 7/7 attacks should be put to death for treason. After all they 'claimed' to be british.

I myself am totally for the death sentence, especially with conclusive dna evidence. And im sick of people killing someone, serving a few years in prison and then coming out and doing it again. Im sure the people opposed to the death penalty would change their tune if this happened to someone they knew.

I stand corrected as some pointed out this wasn't an act against parliament or soverenty. However, if they caught the person who had planned such an attack. What should they do?

Answer 1

actually the comments about the definition of treason are incorrect. Guy Fawkes was convicted of High Treason for his plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, when James I was inside along with the government. The offord English Dictionary definition of treason is: "the crime of betraying one’s country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or government"

so technically any plot involving the Government OR the Queen would be treason. However I'm pretty sure that the Death Penalty for this crime has been abolished thanks to the EU and in fact im almost entirely sure that you cant be sent to prison for treason, other charges would be brought against you. It's just an idea now it has no real meaning. Otherwise every so called Britain who ran to the aid of their fellow Muslims when war broke out in Iraq would be labelled a traitor and tried.

I don't think that will be happening do you?

Answer 2

This is why. July 31st, 1998. The Criminal Justice Bill of this year removed High Treason and piracy with violence as capital crimes, thus effectively ending capital punishment. 27th of January 1999. The Home Secretary (Jack Straw) formally signed the 6th protocol of the European Convention of Human Rights in Strasbourg, on behalf of the British government formally abolishing the death penalty in the UK. It had been still theoretically available for treason and piracy up to 1998 but it was extremely unlikely that even if anyone had been convicted of these crimes over the preceding 30 years, that they would have actually been executed. Successive Home Secretaries had always reprieved persons sentenced to death in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man where the death sentence for murder could still be passed and the Royal Prerogative was observed. What a pity!!!!!!!

Answer 3

The death penalty for treason was repealed in 1998. Not sure if it was to do with Europe but it does still exist on the law books in some commonwealth countries.

Answer 4

It is long gone and thank God. When the Guildford 4 were convicted the judge said that they should have been charged with treason, for which the penalty is death. That was in the 70's. How that judge must have felt when they were later proved innocent. The death penalty is simply not a solution.

Answer 5

Death penalty abolished in UK in 1973 for ordinary crimes; laws provide for the death penalty for exceptional crimes only; last execution in 1964.

Official definition of treason in the UK is 'plotting war against the queen', 'plotting to kill the queen', 'allying with the queen's enemies' and 'having sex with a king's wife'. Bear in mind that in the UK the queen is effectively the state.

As we have not officially declared war against terrorism (Britain last officially declared war in 1939), I'm not sure that what the 7/7 terrorists did qualifies as a treasonous act.

The EU may well have decreed the death penalty for treason illegal (I remember hearing such a couple of years ago), but there are loads of statutes in British law that contradict each other, so it if a court were to consider issuing a death sentence it would be rather up to the court as to which decree they follow.

Besides which, if you think about it despite any EU ruling Britain does still effectively have a death penalty of sorts. The Brazilian, Jean Charles de Menezes, in the Stockwell tube shooting was effectively executed without trial.

Check this out:
"Article 2 – Death penalty in time of war

A State may make provision in its law for the death penalty in respect of acts committed in time of war or of imminent threat of war; such penalty shall be applied only in the instances laid down in the law and in accordance with its provisions. The State shall communicate to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe the relevant provisions of that law."

Answer 6

Under UK law, the death penalty for treason and piracy was abolished by Parliament in the Crime and Disorder act of 1998.

http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/capital_hist.htm

Answer 7

The death penalty was abolished by the EU and is no longer permitted in Member States. The attached link gives the definitive answer.

Answer 8

No, I think it still exists, technically, but is in no way enforced anymore. Can you imagine the outcry if it was? There are loads of laws which aren't enforced anymore, but it would take Parliament too long and would cost too much money to scrap them, so they're just left as they are. I believe that it might still be legal to kill an Welshman on a certain day of the year with a bow and arrow, providing you shoot him in the heart. (obviously I am NOT suggesting you do this!) But its another example of an obsolete law...

Answer 9

It is still very much on the books. However, due to more recent laws like the Conventions on Human Rights, it's doubtful that any death sentense imposed by a court would be upheld as lawful. It's more symbolic than anything else.

Answer 10

No you have been totally misinformed. There is a European protocol against capital punishment and the UK have signed it. But it was voluntary so it was Britain not the EU. Finally you were told it was on every news program on television. You just didn't listen. You should listen before making stupid comments.