David Mitchell (murderer)
Encyclopedia
David Mitchell was a murder
er who killed two German
tourists in the Bahamas and was executed
as a result. His is the most recent execution to be performed by the Bahamas.
Mitchell was convicted of stabbing two tourists from Germany to death and received the mandatory sentence of death by hanging
. He was originally scheduled to be executed on 10 August 1999, but his execution was delayed to allow the Bahamian appeal courts to hear his appeal on the constitutionality of the death penalty. His appeal was rejected by the Bahamian courts and by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
in London
, which acts as the final court of appeal for the Bahamas. Mitchell was executed in the Fox Hill Prison in Nassau
on the morning of 6 January 2000.
Mitchell's execution was controversial because it was carried out while he had an appeal pending before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
. Amnesty International
alleged that this amounted to a violation of the Bahamas' treaty obligations as a member of the Organization of American States
. The victims' son had also requested that the death sentence be commuted
. John Higgs was scheduled to be executed the same day as MItchell for an unrelated murder, but he committed suicide
the day before.
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
er who killed two German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
tourists in the Bahamas and was executed
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
as a result. His is the most recent execution to be performed by the Bahamas.
Mitchell was convicted of stabbing two tourists from Germany to death and received the mandatory sentence of death by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
. He was originally scheduled to be executed on 10 August 1999, but his execution was delayed to allow the Bahamian appeal courts to hear his appeal on the constitutionality of the death penalty. His appeal was rejected by the Bahamian courts and by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, which acts as the final court of appeal for the Bahamas. Mitchell was executed in the Fox Hill Prison in Nassau
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
on the morning of 6 January 2000.
Mitchell's execution was controversial because it was carried out while he had an appeal pending before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States .Along with the...
. Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
alleged that this amounted to a violation of the Bahamas' treaty obligations as a member of the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
. The victims' son had also requested that the death sentence be commuted
Commutation of sentence
Commutation of sentence involves the reduction of legal penalties, especially in terms of imprisonment. Unlike a pardon, a commutation does not nullify the conviction and is often conditional. Clemency is a similar term, meaning the lessening of the penalty of the crime without forgiving the crime...
. John Higgs was scheduled to be executed the same day as MItchell for an unrelated murder, but he committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
the day before.
External links
- "Hands Off Cain: The Bahamas", handsoffcain.info, accessed 2008-08-08