Once the prosecution of the individual on a capital charge was finalised, the trial judge was obliged to inform the Governor that the accused had received the mandatory death sentence.
These files document the process that followed, in which the death sentence (and not whether the accused was guilty) was reviewed to determine whether a recommendation should be put to the Governor to commute the sentence to a prison term or indefinite detention subject to the Governor’s will. The final decision was made at a meeting of the Executive Council.
The records include:
* Reports (e.g., prison, psychiatric, etc.) written by various agencies as to the suitability of the person for mercy
* Copies of Executive Council minutes (taken from VPRS 1080)
* Any letters, petitions, telegrams or other correspondence received on this matter
* Police photographs of the person, and
* Newspaper cuttings related to the case.
Site
Public Record Office Victoria
Format
Searchable Database with digitised images
Terms
Free
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