HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WELCOMES STAY OF EXECUTION OF ALEXANDER WILLIAMS IN THE UNITED STATES

20 February 2002


The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, welcomes news that the execution in Georgia, the United States, of Alexander Williams has been stayed until midnight on 25 February. She adds her voice to calls for the review and commutation of the death sentence imposed on Mr. Williams.

The High Commissioner draws attention to the fact that Mr. Williams has been convicted of a killing which occurred when he was 17 years old. There is also compelling evidence that he suffers from serious mental illness. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has called on Governments not to impose the death penalty against anyone suffering from Aany form of mental disorder@. The High Commissioner is also concerned to observe that allegations have been made that lawyers representing Mr. Williams at his trial were incompetent.

Already, two Special Rapporteurs of the UN Commission on Human Rights have called for a commutation of the death sentence. The High Commissioner, who is in New York on a brief visit, joins her voice with theirs. She requests the authorities in the State of Georgia to not proceed with the execution and undertake a full review of the case of Mr. Williams.




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